If I leave a game without getting a brat with grilled onions, something has gone wrong. Like, notify-my-family wrong.

Edited February 17, 201610 yr by shysocks

Well not to attack the thread here, but I think we missed out on the majority of the good foods in the park ... if someone is saying CrackerJacks are their favorite then we have a problem.

 

The staple is the Polish, extra onion for me. However there is generally pretty good food throughout. The partnership with Beggars was smart. No more Digornio.

I will say that it seems some parks are doing more and more of this, and I would like to see the Sox do this as well - but we need to start moving away from Levy Restaruants and SportService and more into replicating true Chicago restaurants that we are famous for.

 

It's about time you separate yourself. Like it or not, the baseball game for a lot of people is the atmosphere. almost like an amusement park. Yes, people go for the rides, but they are also spending $25 to get into the "park". To go shopping and get clothing, to go to the fundamentals deck, to walk around, to take in sights, etc.

Food is a big part of this. I know there are long term contracts with LEvy, etc. However, if we truly want to separate our experience from the Northside, I say we start shaping our games into a true "Chicago experience"

 

Pizza from Beggars. Italian Beef and Dogs/Polish from Al's. Reubens from Manny's. Mexican from ________. More craft beer than just a few stands (those lines are generally long). Upgrade your nachos and pretzels, etc. to something more than just chips and melted cheese.

You market this buy having an open competition from the vendors etc. Build up excitement.

 

Of course there is the business side of this. Contracts, profit margins, the ability to get said vendors to "water down" their product by selling at a park, etc.

 

But with an empty stadium, its not like the others -- bulls, hawks, cubs.. we need a selling point. why not move towards this as a selling point? I'm sorry, but with 4k TV's and angles and the ability to watch from anywhere -- you need to sell more than the product of baseball.

Polish with grilled onions at The Cell. In the past, I've actually gone to games purely for that reason. A few seasons ago, I also discovered those loaded potatoes. I'll get those from time to time.

Well not to attack the thread here, but I think we missed out on the majority of the good foods in the park ... if someone is saying CrackerJacks are their favorite then we have a problem.

 

The staple is the Polish, extra onion for me. However there is generally pretty good food throughout. The partnership with Beggars was smart. No more Digornio.

I will say that it seems some parks are doing more and more of this, and I would like to see the Sox do this as well - but we need to start moving away from Levy Restaruants and SportService and more into replicating true Chicago restaurants that we are famous for.

 

It's about time you separate yourself. Like it or not, the baseball game for a lot of people is the atmosphere. almost like an amusement park. Yes, people go for the rides, but they are also spending $25 to get into the "park". To go shopping and get clothing, to go to the fundamentals deck, to walk around, to take in sights, etc.

Food is a big part of this. I know there are long term contracts with LEvy, etc. However, if we truly want to separate our experience from the Northside, I say we start shaping our games into a true "Chicago experience"

 

Pizza from Beggars. Italian Beef and Dogs/Polish from Al's. Reubens from Manny's. Mexican from ________. More craft beer than just a few stands (those lines are generally long). Upgrade your nachos and pretzels, etc. to something more than just chips and melted cheese.

You market this buy having an open competition from the vendors etc. Build up excitement.

 

Of course there is the business side of this. Contracts, profit margins, the ability to get said vendors to "water down" their product by selling at a park, etc.

 

But with an empty stadium, its not like the others -- bulls, hawks, cubs.. we need a selling point. why not move towards this as a selling point? I'm sorry, but with 4k TV's and angles and the ability to watch from anywhere -- you need to sell more than the product of baseball.

 

i really had a hard time tying not to respond. this will bring up an old topic and it is about money.

 

while you do make a great post, esp about the one of the joys of seeing a game in person, your point on levy and SS is where i am going. those 2 companies are and have some of the sox ownership and hawks ownership as well. the levy brothers are from the same area as one of the sox owners. 2nd, they also supply the norhtside team as well.

 

but i really do not want to rehash that whole financial income and sub companies and profit.

 

now back to the food at the park. i have been to some parks, nothing like i am sure of some of the other posters. the one thing i come away with after watching a game, the food in the sox park are sooooo freaking great, the same at the bears. however, the experience of the culinary side from the bulls and hawks.

Polish with grilled onions at The Cell. In the past, I've actually gone to games purely for that reason. A few seasons ago, I also discovered those loaded potatoes. I'll get those from time to time.

 

those potatoes will fill me up. i want to eat and to drink .... the before, the vendor know to come every 2 innings to our section, we will buy and load up on the beer plus a healthy tip for remembering .

In the end it's a business. That's why you see sh** food at Great America, sporting events throughout the country, etc. . The ability to make better food is there. I have underwritten financials of some of said companies. They are doing well. I understand there are politics and financials that go into this, hence why its unlikely to change.

 

 

My post is really more the chicken and the egg. Most teams are zombies, just going with the status quo. If you are winning you can get away with that.

Just thinking outside the box. If you have an empty stadium how does one fill it? You pander towards your customer. Technology so people can be on their smart phones, food, beer, etc.

 

It can be done. But spending 0.50 on nachos and charging $7.00 is a great profit. Spending $1.25 on nachos and charging $7.50 is not as great of a profit.

Somebody would be out of a job if sales didn't increase to make up that margin. There are so many metrics that go into these breakdowns.

Surveys,etc. saying -- if we did this and this, whats the likelihood of you attending a game? I get it. But I'd like to think the consumer is smarter than that.

 

I personally know that I'll drink the majority of my beer pre-game. I'll have a nice meal beforehand and not spend more than $20 on items generally. If they had good food?

I'd buy a few items. I know that when I'm in stadium club I'll generally come with an empty stomach because the food up there is better.

Beer is beer. Same thing. They get a better margin on Miller Lite than on Half Acre. You'll always see more Miller Lite. But no doubt the experience would be better with better food/drink.

 

Again, don't want to get off topic either.

 

So Polish, extra onion. Half Acre beer.

Their Cuban, although not spectacular, is decent for ballpark food.

In the end it's a business. That's why you see sh** food at Great America, sporting events throughout the country, etc. . The ability to make better food is there. I have underwritten financials of some of said companies. They are doing well. I understand there are politics and financials that go into this, hence why its unlikely to change.

 

 

My post is really more the chicken and the egg. Most teams are zombies, just going with the status quo. If you are winning you can get away with that.

Just thinking outside the box. If you have an empty stadium how does one fill it? You pander towards your customer. Technology so people can be on their smart phones, food, beer, etc.

 

It can be done. But spending 0.50 on nachos and charging $7.00 is a great profit. Spending $1.25 on nachos and charging $7.50 is not as great of a profit.

Somebody would be out of a job if sales didn't increase to make up that margin. There are so many metrics that go into these breakdowns.

Surveys,etc. saying -- if we did this and this, whats the likelihood of you attending a game? I get it. But I'd like to think the consumer is smarter than that.

 

I personally know that I'll drink the majority of my beer pre-game. I'll have a nice meal beforehand and not spend more than $20 on items generally. If they had good food?

I'd buy a few items. I know that when I'm in stadium club I'll generally come with an empty stomach because the food up there is better.

Beer is beer. Same thing. They get a better margin on Miller Lite than on Half Acre. You'll always see more Miller Lite. But no doubt the experience would be better with better food/drink.

 

you hit the nail on the head. or you hit a home-run here.

 

great counter.

 

question, when did the sox went away from one company producing all the food to different vendors providing their specialty of that group. that is what i remember of going to the sox games back in the 80's.

 

Again, don't want to get off topic either.

 

So Polish, extra onion. Half Acre beer.

Their Cuban, although not spectacular, is decent for ballpark food.

 

isn't some west coast team providing asian cuisine as well.... something like the asian market does overseas???

Well not to attack the thread here, but I think we missed out on the majority of the good foods in the park ... if someone is saying CrackerJacks are their favorite then we have a problem.

 

The staple is the Polish, extra onion for me. However there is generally pretty good food throughout. The partnership with Beggars was smart. No more Digornio.

I will say that it seems some parks are doing more and more of this, and I would like to see the Sox do this as well - but we need to start moving away from Levy Restaruants and SportService and more into replicating true Chicago restaurants that we are famous for.

 

It's about time you separate yourself. Like it or not, the baseball game for a lot of people is the atmosphere. almost like an amusement park. Yes, people go for the rides, but they are also spending $25 to get into the "park". To go shopping and get clothing, to go to the fundamentals deck, to walk around, to take in sights, etc.

Food is a big part of this. I know there are long term contracts with LEvy, etc. However, if we truly want to separate our experience from the Northside, I say we start shaping our games into a true "Chicago experience"

 

Pizza from Beggars. Italian Beef and Dogs/Polish from Al's. Reubens from Manny's. Mexican from ________. More craft beer than just a few stands (those lines are generally long). Upgrade your nachos and pretzels, etc. to something more than just chips and melted cheese.

You market this buy having an open competition from the vendors etc. Build up excitement.

 

Of course there is the business side of this. Contracts, profit margins, the ability to get said vendors to "water down" their product by selling at a park, etc.

 

But with an empty stadium, its not like the others -- bulls, hawks, cubs.. we need a selling point. why not move towards this as a selling point? I'm sorry, but with 4k TV's and angles and the ability to watch from anywhere -- you need to sell more than the product of baseball.

 

I'd love to see a true Chicago brand names vending area. Some Harold's chicken, some Billy Goat burgers, pick a pizza place, etc. I just don't know how it would fit within existing contracts and facilities.

you hit the nail on the head. or you hit a home-run here.

 

great counter.

 

question, when did the sox went away from one company producing all the food to different vendors providing their specialty of that group. that is what i remember of going to the sox games back in the 80's.

 

 

You're always so positive LDF. It's a welcome on a message board where most stray to negativity (myself included). Keep up the positive looks!

You're always so positive LDF. It's a welcome on a message board where most stray to negativity (myself included). Keep up the positive looks!

 

yeah i was accuse of being a cheerleader and i say so what. positive comments is great to keep the juice flowing and it can be fully discussion.

 

in other words a great point - counter point debate of discussion.

 

i love a post where msg are flowing in all directions.

 

btw.

 

you are my hero.

Frankly, I think most, if not all food at the Cell is overpriced, but it tastes so good that I don't care.

Frankly, I think most, if not all food at any sports/entertainment venue is overpriced, but it tastes so good that I don't care.

 

Fixed.

Edited February 18, 201610 yr by soxfan2014

Polish Sausage pregame, funnel cake later.

Frankly, I think most, if not all food at the Cell is overpriced, but it tastes so good that I don't care.

 

yea, that is everywhere

Hot dog from the carts with extra grilled onions. If there's a heaven, that's what it smells like.

Polish Sausage pregame, funnel cake later.

 

Where I had my seats last year, there was a funnel cake stand right outside my section. Loved it. Didn't miss a pitch.

Hot dog from the carts with extra grilled onions. If there's a heaven, that's what it smells like.

 

The ballpark food smell when you walk in is like no other. Im immediately hungry for everything

The ballpark food smell when you walk in is like no other. Im immediately hungry for everything

 

Im hungry for a helmet full of nachos now.

I don't know if they still have it at the park, but in 2011 (last year I regularly went to a games before I moved south) they had a vendor selling spicy sausages with grilled onions. I swear to God I spent $50 a game at that vendor.

Hot dog from the carts with extra grilled onions. If there's a heaven, that's what it smells like.

Super ropes.

Surprised nobody remembers the old corned beef sandwich grill and regular beef sandwich grill. They had em at old Comiskey and I think initially all the food moved over to the new Cell.

Will there be any new food options at the Cell this year?

Will there be any new food options at the Cell this year?

 

If there is, I'm sure the Sox will tweet/facebook/instagram them out closer to when the season starts.

 

I'm pretty sure they did that last year too.