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Atlanta Falcons to offer the lowest concession prices in professional sports

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RBH

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Atlanta Falcons fans might encounter sticker shock when they attend their first game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium next year. That's because the team announced Monday that it will offer what will amount to the lowest concession prices at the major-sports-team level.


  • $2 – Non-alcoholic beverage products with unlimited free refills (at freestanding refill stations)
  • $2 – Dasani bottled water; hot dogs; pretzels; popcorn
  • $3 – Peanuts; pizza; nachos; waffle fries
  • $5 – 12 oz. domestic beer


The menu and pricing model – which will allow a family of four to consume the typical game-day purchases for $28 or less – will be in effect for Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Atlanta United (MLS) games, as well as major events at Mercedes-Benz Stadium including the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, SEC Championship Game, the College Football National Championship (2018) and the NCAA Men’s Final Four slated for 2020. The pricing and product offerings will be the same for concerts, conventions and other special events booked at the stadium.


"We'll be able to feed a family of four at our games for $28," said Steve Cannon, CEO of the AMB Group, the family of businesses owned by Arthur Blank that includes the Falcons, Atlanta United and the new stadium that will open in 2017. "That's 60 to 70 percent cheaper than our competitors."

The Falcons hope to make up some of the money lost on typical margins by doing volume. There will be 670 concession points in the new stadium, which is 65 percent more availability than the team has in the Georgia Dome. Soda refill stations will be separate from lines for those ordering for the first time. Prices, including tax, are right on the dollar, meaning there's no change to be made, thus speeding up the transaction time.

The prices also could serve as an incentive for fans to buy tickets. While Cannon said the concession prices aren't to achieve a greater goal, the Falcons have had a harder time selling seats in the upper bowl for its new stadium. The most expensive seats, $45,000 PSLs on the 50-yard line, are sold out.

Unlike most teams, selling concession rights in exchange for guaranteed cash, Blank -- who had often talked about making concession prices match those offered to patrons at Augusta National for the Masters -- didn't make that deal. Instead, his company forged an operator relationship with Levy Restaurants that comes with a flat management fee. That allowed the team creativity to make the drastic change.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...s-major-team-sports-new-mercedes-benz-stadium


McKay says soda area won't be behind the concession stands. Instead, soda will be self-serve refillable and away from stands for ease of use
https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/732213928218988544

Blank: The pricing for concessions is not "grand-opening" pricing. The prices are the standard and will stay the way they are.
https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/732210970056134657
 
Cool! I'm not really a sports-ball fan, but I go to a few games with friends every year. I hope the model ends up working well for them.
 

ironcreed

Banned
I might try to get back down to the old ATL to catch a game when the stadium opens if I am still in GA late next year.
 
Gotta sell those season tickets and PSLs somehow. This is a good way to do so.

I am not looking forward to those ticket prices in 2017 when I come back to attend a game with my dad.
 

hermit7

Member
Those free refills are gonna lead them to bankruptcy.

Yeah I don't see that lasting very long, even if it essentially free for them 55000 people is a ton if they are getting free refills all the time.

I think this is a good love though. Concessions prices are only going up and up, and realistically it is cheaper to have a nice dinner than go the ballpark and get drinks and food.
 
I'm not falling for those prices. Everything might end up being small.

It's almost too good to be true.

The gif just loaded and I saw the sizes in there.

Well played Atlanta. Well played.
 

phanphare

Banned
The only thing I can think of is that coke syrup is so cheap and the Falcons must have a deal with Coke. I'd love to see the math on how much a 20oz coke from a fountain machine really costs.

they probably pay more for the cup than the 20oz of soda in the cup
 

Laieon

Member
That's awesome.

Not a sports fan, but I like going to games where I live (Korea) because concessions/beer (and tickets) are actually affordable.
 

shira

Member
The only thing I can think of is that coke syrup is so cheap and the Falcons must have a deal with Coke. I'd love to see the math on how much a 20oz coke from a fountain machine really costs.

Coke syrup costs pennies.

The loss is from not selling multiple Cokes
 

chuckddd

Fear of a GAF Planet
They've already been showing up for games:


http://espn.go.com/nfl/attendance/_/year/2015


They've been in the top-half for quite awhile now. Arthur Blank overall has been a blessing for the organization.

It was all about getting a qb that talks to the suburbs.

The only thing I can think of is that coke syrup is so cheap and the Falcons must have a deal with Coke. I'd love to see the math on how much a 20oz coke from a fountain machine really costs.

The majority of the cost is with the cups and lids and straws. It's seriously about $0.01 an ounce.
 

Quonny

Member
Those free refills are gonna lead them to bankruptcy.

If someone refilled 18 times they'd still make a profit.

Fountain drinks are ludicrously profitable. It's somewhere in the ballpark of 1820% profit for a $2 drink for fast food chains, and I would imagine that these large venues make off even better.
 

Chris R

Member
This is how much stuff should cost at games. Hope it starts a trend (that doesn't require a new stadium to implement) that sweeps the nation.
 

Andodalf

Banned
Wow, Very interested to know the economics of this. In madden I make my food cheap knowing I'll lose money to make fans happier and sell more tickets.
 

RBH

Member
Fixed that.

I want to know how much a teams revnue is based on concession. This is a great idea and it needs to be adopted everywhere.

Saw this earlier today:

NFL teams can net $10 million a year in food alone. Falcons take seems to be, it's a relative drop in a bucket, why not make fans happier?
https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/732215138367852544

Plus taking volume into consideration:

The Falcons hope to make up some of the money lost on typical margins by doing volume. There will be 670 concession points in the new stadium, which is 65 percent more availability than the team has in the Georgia Dome. Soda refill stations will be separate from lines for those ordering for the first time. Prices, including tax, are right on the dollar, meaning there's no change to be made, thus speeding up the transaction time.


It'll be interesting to see how this does and whether it gets adapted by other teams in the future.
 

masud

Banned
6 dollars for chicken fingers and fries is crazy for an arena. I've paid like 15 dollars for that at a game.
 

Katori

Member
Might actually go see a game at this rate, they're right down the street from me but the car ride to and from would be hell.
 
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