'People are flat-out slobs': Jamie Pollard

[Heathrow06]

I'd assume the beer would be dedicated vendors. The issue sometimes with the other concessions I think is that a lot of people are volunteer/organization based to raise funds for a church/boy scouts (so they're not used to the hustle). I think? Someone correct me if Im wrong.

There is a mix of paid hourly employees and then volunteers (like ISU students raising money for their campus organizations).
The issue is that Levy Restaurant Group, who runs concessions for ISU, falls short in the areas of training, support, and proper food/beverage inventory levels relative to demand…

 

[JP4CY]

#1 tailgating environment lowers it
#2 that's still a shitload of drinks. Thats roughly 75 beers sold per minute with 4 hours of serving time. That means what...600 stands based on how concessions currently work?

Jamie's numbers are from the schools he listed....Ohio State, Notre Dame.
Schools with larger stadiums, maybe better concessions.

All I'm saying is those numbers seemed really low to me.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

I do not believe they would only get 400k out of 2.5 mil.

 

[NebraskaCY]

Nebraska announced this week that they expected to sell about 120k cans in their home opener. That would be around 1.5 cans per seat. I think we are underestimating what the stadium would sell.

“A lot of equipment to get in,” he said. “You’ll see a lot of coolers, a lot of beer portables.”

Nebraska expects to sell 121,000 cold beers during the home opener and is setting up 19 walk-through stands to ensure fans can purchase a drink and get back to their seat in no time.

 

[cyclone87]

I do believe beer would be more about providing an additional amenity to fans than generating profit (it would generate some profit, but I don’t think Pollards numbers would be far off though). It also can provide some potential pitfalls like increased liability. Overall I think we should probably sell beer at this point, and there is a decent chance they will starting next year.

 

[madguy30]

I don't know why fans think it's simple. Go try to open a bar and see how "simple" it is to sell alcohol.

True but whoever is selling beer at a stadium will probably not be organizing it for the first time.

 

[Letterkenny]

It's hilarious that people think Pollard is wrong or lying about the numbers. I'm sure your 30 seconds of research is more accurate than him getting the numbers directly from the concessions venders themselves.

I'd lean towards allowing beer, but it'd be a perk for the fans more than a revenue generator.

 

[3TrueFans]

It's hilarious that people think Pollard is wrong or lying about the numbers. I'm sure your 30 seconds of research is more accurate than him getting the numbers directly from the concessions venders themselves.

I'd lean towards allowing beer, but it'd be a perk for the fans more than a revenue generator.

If they don't care about the money they could make the beer cheaper until they just break even, then everyone's happy.

 

[AgronAlum]

Anyone posted this yet? That’s a lot of revenue.

 

[Messi]

Jamie's numbers are from the schools he listed....Ohio State, Notre Dame.
Schools with larger stadiums, maybe better concessions.

All I'm saying is those numbers seemed really low to me.

Iowa football alcohol sales topped $3M in 2023, marking 29% increase

IOWA CITY — In heaven, there is no beer — as the polka song played at Iowa games says — so Hawkeye fans are drinking plenty of it at Kinnick

www.thegazette.com

Iowa sold $3m.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

I do not believe they would only get 400k out of 2.5 mil.

Why not? An opinion or do u have specifics?

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Why not? An opinion or do u have specifics?

Just from numbers I've seen floated before. Plus just looking at the mathematics of it, that's a 16% return. Ridiculous.

 

[JP4CY]

Iowa football alcohol sales topped $3M in 2023, marking 29% increase

IOWA CITY — In heaven, there is no beer — as the polka song played at Iowa games says — so Hawkeye fans are drinking plenty of it at Kinnick

www.thegazette.com

Iowa sold $3m.

If he's being told 2-2.5 million and Iowa is getting 3 million its probably a fair estimate then.
With Iowa usually having 7 home games and a larger stadium, it's probably right then.

In my mind I would have just thought that # was higher.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

If he's being told 2-2.5 million and Iowa is getting 3 million its probably a fair estimate then.
With Iowa usually having 7 home games and a larger stadium, it's probably right then.

In my mind I would have just thought that # was higher.

It's a conservative estimate. When I did a quick query on general returns on sales for an average business 15-25% was typical of a profitable larger business. But even if that is normal it should be an automatic yes. If you're getting the same return as anyone else why are you turning away money?

 

[MartyFine]

Iowa football alcohol sales topped $3M in 2023, marking 29% increase

IOWA CITY — In heaven, there is no beer — as the polka song played at Iowa games says — so Hawkeye fans are drinking plenty of it at Kinnick

www.thegazette.com

Iowa sold $3m.

ISU fans would drink 20 million dollars of beer if Deacon Hill were ever the starting QB.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

It's hilarious that people think Pollard is wrong or lying about the numbers. I'm sure your 30 seconds of research is more accurate than him getting the numbers directly from the concessions venders themselves.

I'd lean towards allowing beer, but it'd be a perk for the fans more than a revenue generator.

If the Squawks are making $3 million a season, it's crazy that we are not doing it, just for an added money stream. Unless EIU and UNI know more about selling and policing it, then Pollard is wrong here.

 

[Saul_T]

I do not believe they would only get 400k out of 2.5 mil.

For real. You're only taking in 16% of your own concession profits? I understand they outsource the service, but that seems a touch low.

 

[Cloned4Life]

I do believe beer would be more about providing an additional amenity to fans than generating profit (it would generate some profit, but I don’t think Pollards numbers would be far off though). It also can provide some potential pitfalls like increased liability. Overall I think we should probably sell beer at this point, and there is a decent chance they will starting next year.

This x1000.

It improves the gameday experience (by all measurable accounts) and keeps people in the stands/stadium at halftime. Getting $400,000 of profit is an amazing bonus. Like an absolute no brainer.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

It's a conservative estimate. When I did a quick query on general returns on sales for an average business 15-25% was typical of a profitable larger business. But even if that is normal it should be an automatic yes. If you're getting the same return as anyone else why are you turning away money?

But that changes for stadiums, a quick google search shows that if the team is selling it themselves, the profit margins can get up to as high as 90%. For many teams alcohol sells brings in a lot of money, and then opens up another revenue stream with getting a beer or alcohol company to purchase signs or other items inside the stadium. How much would a beer garden area set up by Miller or AB bring in to the stadium in extra funds, a lot I would guess.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

But that changes for stadiums, a quick google search shows that if the team is selling it themselves, the profit margins can get up to as high as 90%. For many teams alcohol sells brings in a lot of money, and then opens up another revenue stream with getting a beer or alcohol company to purchase signs or other items inside the stadium. How much would a beer garden area set up by Miller or AB bring in to the stadium in extra funds, a lot I would guess.

Ya I agree. I was just trying to give a realistic estimate. I still think 16% is pathetic on an item being marked up like 700-800%.