Game Day Experience

[Dayons_Den]

Minimal revenue from a shoddy food op will beat no revenue from food trucks every day and twice on game day.

I've retorted food truck option before- as someone who works in venue operation and live event management I can tell you the food trucks ain't paying a fee to set up and they ain't profit sharing their sales non top of that a third part stand from Spots or Polleyes should require a fee and rev share again neither of which our favorite eateries will agree to. So as a department tasked to make money the only option at this time, without getting aggressive or creative, is to take whatever money you can get off of concession.

[BGGrad01]

If we're talking about casual fans, we've got big issues, many of which have been discussed here. Another issue is that our style of play leads to a looooooong game. It's a time commitment to go to a BG football game. Yesterday was pretty normal for our style at a shade under 4 hours. When you get people accustomed to "normal" 3 hour (or a little more) games, you're going to have a chunk of people leaving early. I heard several people commenting on it as we walked out last night. The style of play is our trademark right now but we can't deny that it leads to a time commitment that a bunch of casual fans won't make more than once.

[cameron]

Honestly, I think the bottom line is this:

Treat your customers like they matter, show them you value their time and money, and they'll be back.

They might leave in the third quarter, but they'll be back.

BGSU has a lot of work to do in this area, and has been repeated over the years, we NEED the casual fans to draw a good attendance.

[Flipper]

The problem with the concessions workers from corporate vendors..in general...is that you're working with people so desperate for a job that they'll work Saturday am to early evening for peanuts. They don't want to be there because in reality, who in their right mind would?

I don't buy this argument. So many programs do a better job. In fact, I can't think of an FBS program that *doesn't* do a better job. Maryland has wonderful concessions. Last year, Indiana and Kent State both seemed to do a decent job. Presumably they have to deal with similar labor conditions.

I suspect there are some infrastructure issues that are at the heart of this, but I do wonder if a system of perimeter food trucks would help matters by expanding options and taking the heat off the official concessions. But, as Falcon137 has observed, perhaps exclusivity is an issue. Perhaps the numbers won't work if food trucks are let in.

Facilities are a major issue...the major issue and i've said so in the past. There was some discussion about the quality of the workers on hand that preceded my comments and that is what I responded to. You aren't going to get grade A employees manning those spots...in general...you don't see many grade A employees working in poit of purchase positions at the lower end of the wage scale anywhere.

If we didn't have 1960's quality concessions areas we the lack of quality would be less of an issue...the lack of skills with the employees would be less of an issue. EVERYTHING would be less of an issue if our stadium wasn't an antiquated dump compared to the basketball arena

[jpfalcon09]

Simply put, the university has waited way too long to give the Doyt a much needed face lift. They've done a good job in the areas surrounding the stadium, but the structure itself is well past its useful life and needs major TLC. It's a great place to catch a football game and that's honestly about it. I sat next to a couple from Memphis who remarked about how great the views were but felt the stadium really lacks the amenities that 95% of other FBS stadiums possess, they legit told me that they've seen FCS programs have better game day preparation and modernized facilities. That should a point of embarrassment for the athletic department.

Until the Doyt either gets massive upgrades, or the university decides it's time to build a new stadium, nothing is going to change. The issues to me reflect the university's decision to keep things on the cheap in an attempt to reduce overhead costs as much as possible. The stadium gets used 5-6 times a year whereas the Stroh and Ice Arena get year round usage and obviously host many more events, and that has been shown in the school's decision to attack those problems first rather than fix the Doyt.

[Tech83]

Didn't think I'd need to clarify my recommendation……

Having local places provide food to the concession area is done elsewhere. This would occur at either the existing concession stands or my proposed new pavilions

Food trucks would be owned and operated by people other than the local restaurants (typically… however there is a movement for brick and mortars to start having food trucks as another way to expand their market and brand). I think it would be a one-time event ….. maybe each year. I think you could get those vendors to donate a certain amount of their profits from that day or a donation-type fee to participate. Seriously…. there aren''t many food truck rallies that could attract 20,000 patrons.

[Falcon137]

A few things that are new this year...

The Miller Lite party area, I feel like no one had any idea what this was. I never saw anything ever mentioned outside of a few months ago. Also, Miller Lite replaces Budweiser this year.

Vito's pizza was available. Is this another new pizza place in BG? Any good?

[jpfalcon09]

A few things that are new this year...

The Miller Lite party area, I feel like no one had any idea what this was. I never saw anything ever mentioned outside of a few months ago. Also, Miller Lite replaces Budweiser this year.

Vito's pizza was available. Is this another new pizza place in BG? Any good?

Vito's has been growing in the Toledo area for the past 6-8 years or so...I enjoy their pizza a lot and they usually come out with new specialty pizzas every few months. I believe they're located next door to Reverend's.

[hammb]

A few things that are new this year...

The Miller Lite party area, I feel like no one had any idea what this was. I never saw anything ever mentioned outside of a few months ago. Also, Miller Lite replaces Budweiser this year.

Vito's pizza was available. Is this another new pizza place in BG? Any good?

Vito's has been growing in the Toledo area for the past 6-8 years or so...I enjoy their pizza a lot and they usually come out with new specialty pizzas every few months. I believe they're located next door to Reverend's.

Yeah, it's a Toledo area pizza chain. Known for their specialty pizzas, specifically they have a Tony Packo's one with Packo's dogs, dog sauce, and mustard on it. On the whole I'd say their pizza is on par with other "delivery chain" pizzas like Marco's or Pisanello's. I don't think it stacks up well with Myle's or Pollyeye's.

Miller Lite? Seriously? Tell me that at least carry Coors as well? Good lord...the one beer I won't even drink for free at an open bar event...

[Flipper]

Vito's is Godawful...and they use this stupid stereotypical "Mama Mia" type character in their ads. Garbage pizza...boderline racist ads and the only...the absolute only...pizza to ever make me sprint to the bathroom quicker than a meal from Fricker's.

Avoid at all costs

[Class of 61]

This doesn't address concessions per se ( tho my wife came back w/o the water she went for). But did any of you have a chance to go into the Falcon gear tent on W. Side of stadium? It was put just inside the fence and was about half the size of the old one in the south endzone ;people were literally wall to wall ( canvas to canvas?) hard to find anything . Don't know why this particular move was made... But DUMB. IMO.

[bgsufn]

This doesn't address concessions per se ( tho my wife came back w/o the water she went for). But did any of you have a chance to go into the Falcon gear tent on W. Side of stadium? It was put just inside the fence and was about half the size of the old one in the south endzone ;people were literally wall to wall ( canvas to canvas?) hard to find anything . Don't know why this particular move was made... But DUMB. IMO.

I went in (once I found it) and it was TERRIBLE!!!! Way too many people in there and it was TINY compared to the previous tent. And WHY was it on the WEST side, jammed in with concession lines and everything? We ended up not purchasing anything because it was too difficult to find sizes, etc. Next time, I'm hitting up SBX on the way into town.

[vannzee]

I will be back in November for the Wednesday night against Ohio, which should be a good game despite not being enthused about it starting at 8 PM on a Wednesday.

[Browns]

They could just set up some stands with coolers and sell drinks, a lot of people just want something to sip on anyway. My wife waited in line 30 minutes for a diet coke.

[BGGrad01]

Re: merchandise tent, I'm guessing they thought most people enter on the west side so they would move it to the masses. Unfortunately, the tent was way too small to accommodate the crowds.