The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

a friend texted me earlier that they were there...I replied "can't wait to read about how bad concessions are"

I'm a season ticket holder for 16+ years in both football and basketball. As crappy as the quality was at LF, I usually always got a hotdog and drink. I used to do the same at Bartow, except for the few years when they brought in McAllisters. Now that prices are insane and the quality of the product and the terrible service to go with it, I believe I may have bought 1 drink at Protective this year. I went to every home basketball game this year and didn't buy a single item from the Bartow concessions. I did buy a drink at MTSU and Ark St, but their prices were normal. I'm not going to sacrifice hard-earned money at the concession stands to reward terrible product and service just for the good of the future of "the fanbase". I'm part of the current fanbase, and I contribute plenty.... and the football deadline is next week.

That was fun. Probably 30-35k there. They used the green lot, gravel pit next to Top golf for the pre show pit party. 12 trucks. We parked here(417 20th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203), I believe. $24 for that. $60 for 2 standard tickets, $40 in fees on top of that thru ticket master.

So, about a mile long walk. Not bad. There were shuttles running around the closer perimeter of the BJCC properties. Decent police presence within a 6-7 block radius. If you’re worried about the boogeyman or homeless man stabbing and robbing you, there was such a large mass of people walking thru the streets back to the deck that you didn’t have to feel on alert. We just made it an emphasis to avoid Boutwell auditorium.

I can’t speak on concessions, vendors, or merch booths too much.

Souvenir cups were about $9 a piece and then popcorn was $6-7 in a souvenir bag. Looked like most concessions were open, but ours was moving slowly even without a line at 4:15.

If you go to the LIVE page on Monster Jams YouTube channel, you can watch tonight’s event as they live streamed it.

Don’t know if I said it earlier or not, but Legacy hosted some dude named Zach Bryan tonight. So there was probably 50000-70000 people downtown tonight.

(03-12-2024 10:39 AM)blazerblazer Wrote:  

(03-12-2024 07:23 AM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(03-12-2024 06:50 AM)MAN4UAB Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 05:53 PM)Usajags Wrote:  The way I see is it is you have options. If you want “big boy” college football, it comes at a price for the fans. If you want inexpensive college football game experience, go to the hillltop and watch a BSC football game.

Once you know the concessions are costly, plan accordingly, include it in what you expect to do and pay for on game day. Is it pleasant, not all the time, but stop letting it be a surprise to the same people. Rather I’m at the local ballpark for kids games or at a professional venue, I know I’m going to spend more at the concession stand than I did to get on property. I know it, I plan for it, and I enjoy my day.

That’s where I am. When the grand young’uns come with me, I know they will want concessions along with T shirts or a ball cap so I plan accordingly.

That said, I know what it is like to have small kids while on a tight budget. We didn’t make many games due to overall costs for attendance.

And this is exactly what I’m trying to point out. We are not going to grow the fan base and get younger fans with the current setup. Those of us on this board are all ready loyal fans who care a lot about UAB. It’s the next generation we need to build towards, and we are doing a very poor job of that.

Didn't realize the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United weren't "big boy" football. They have cheap concessions at MBS.


IMO there are 3 problems with the concession pricing:

1. It is priced as if every UAB, Legion, Stallions game is a sold out Garth Brooks show. Usually at large sold out events things are overpriced because they can maximize their profits with a all those patrons, but there is no reason to have premium prices for events that are barely half full.
2. We are trying to bring in new fans and/or new visitors to Protective. You are scaring people off if they have to pay expensive concessions for a UAB v. Tulsa game. If we could get Protective to have Bartow prices, then things wouldn't be as bad.
3. When they opened Protective they promised great food and signature cocktails. Elektra on the West End wasn't open at all last season. The first season they had all these great signature foods and drinks available, but now it's back to generic stadium food with premium food prices.

They should have your generic stadium food for one price and premium foods at a higher price; however, they food selection has gone down hill since the first season.

We also need an NIL beer but that is a whole other thread.


Edit: NFL stadiums beer and hotdog prices: https://kicks99.com/2023/08/21/this-geor...-and-beer/

Was watching/listening to the radio or podcast(probably TNR) but they were talking about concession prices. They were interviewing the GM of Talladega and he was talking about fans being able to bring in coolers with their own drinks and food. Then they talked about the prices of food at Augusta National. The Masters is one of the most exclusive tickets in the country and they still use $1 and $2 prices on concessions on-site. They also said that stadiums like Mercedes Dime in ATL was using the new affordable price model for concessions, and they mentioned other stadiums also doing that. If Protective would have a concession stand that just serviced the old fashioned hot dog and a drink type of menu. Walk up with $10 and walk away with a couple dogs and a drink might be the answer. Still have the higher end stuff for those trying to impress their date, but give economic options for the young family just trying to enjoy the day and create some family traditions without breaking the bank.

Just have Thirsty Thursday prices all the time.

That makes good sense.

The BJCC will never allow it.

https://www.al.com/news/2024/04/zach-bry...12000.html

(04-17-2024 10:27 AM)Usajags Wrote:  

(03-12-2024 10:39 AM)blazerblazer Wrote:  

(03-12-2024 07:23 AM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(03-12-2024 06:50 AM)MAN4UAB Wrote:  

(03-11-2024 05:53 PM)Usajags Wrote:  The way I see is it is you have options. If you want “big boy” college football, it comes at a price for the fans. If you want inexpensive college football game experience, go to the hillltop and watch a BSC football game.

Once you know the concessions are costly, plan accordingly, include it in what you expect to do and pay for on game day. Is it pleasant, not all the time, but stop letting it be a surprise to the same people. Rather I’m at the local ballpark for kids games or at a professional venue, I know I’m going to spend more at the concession stand than I did to get on property. I know it, I plan for it, and I enjoy my day.

That’s where I am. When the grand young’uns come with me, I know they will want concessions along with T shirts or a ball cap so I plan accordingly.

That said, I know what it is like to have small kids while on a tight budget. We didn’t make many games due to overall costs for attendance.

And this is exactly what I’m trying to point out. We are not going to grow the fan base and get younger fans with the current setup. Those of us on this board are all ready loyal fans who care a lot about UAB. It’s the next generation we need to build towards, and we are doing a very poor job of that.

Didn't realize the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United weren't "big boy" football. They have cheap concessions at MBS.


IMO there are 3 problems with the concession pricing:

1. It is priced as if every UAB, Legion, Stallions game is a sold out Garth Brooks show. Usually at large sold out events things are overpriced because they can maximize their profits with a all those patrons, but there is no reason to have premium prices for events that are barely half full.
2. We are trying to bring in new fans and/or new visitors to Protective. You are scaring people off if they have to pay expensive concessions for a UAB v. Tulsa game. If we could get Protective to have Bartow prices, then things wouldn't be as bad.
3. When they opened Protective they promised great food and signature cocktails. Elektra on the West End wasn't open at all last season. The first season they had all these great signature foods and drinks available, but now it's back to generic stadium food with premium food prices.

They should have your generic stadium food for one price and premium foods at a higher price; however, they food selection has gone down hill since the first season.

We also need an NIL beer but that is a whole other thread.


Edit: NFL stadiums beer and hotdog prices: https://kicks99.com/2023/08/21/this-geor...-and-beer/

Was watching/listening to the radio or podcast(probably TNR) but they were talking about concession prices. They were interviewing the GM of Talladega and he was talking about fans being able to bring in coolers with their own drinks and food. Then they talked about the prices of food at Augusta National. The Masters is one of the most exclusive tickets in the country and they still use $1 and $2 prices on concessions on-site. They also said that stadiums like Mercedes Dime in ATL was using the new affordable price model for concessions, and they mentioned other stadiums also doing that. If Protective would have a concession stand that just serviced the old fashioned hot dog and a drink type of menu. Walk up with $10 and walk away with a couple dogs and a drink might be the answer. Still have the higher end stuff for those trying to impress their date, but give economic options for the young family just trying to enjoy the day and create some family traditions without breaking the bank.

Just have Thirsty Thursday prices all the time.

You could easily jack up the price of every ticket by $5-10 and hardly anyone would complain, and then use that extra income to set concessions prices to be cheap

What they want to do is squeeze the ticket price to the breaking point AND jack up the concessions prices, but if they'd slide it the other way they'd make more money and the perception would be that the prices are low and people wouldn't complain

From what I’ve seen of events lately, go buy your tickets at the box office or at the window. The fees included when purchasing thru ticket master is theft.