The 2012-13 food and drink thread - prices, running out, quality and choice etc

[Hotchilidog]

Well I'm going to give it a few games and adjust my behaviour accordingly. If a pint of Harveys is £3.90 the with the 10%cashback it becomes £3.51 if my maths is correct and that is more than acceptable at a sporting venue. The most effective way for people to protest about the prices is too withold their custom. if we go from 16,000 pints a game or what ever it is was to something in the region of the expected 4,000 then I'd expect them to change.

What you have to remember is that we are going to the Amex for the football, everything else is a bonus as far as I'm concerned. Given the quality of the seat, sightlines and atmosphere I am more than happy the expense so far. I view the catering element as a discretionary spend not essential. If food is that important sort yourself out before you go, it's not as if you could get full on the fayre at the stadium anyway.

I find these sort of threads quite depressing as it tends to lose sight of the real reason we go to the Amex, which is to support the team. I agree there is a limit to which to prices can go up, but remember you are at a sporting venue where there is always a premium on price, and compared to most if not all the grounds we will visit this season the facilities are by far the best around.

 

[Bozza]

Did you really not check? I'd say 50% of the time they give you the wrong pie!

How do you check the contents of the pie without getting into the pie itself?

It's a very, very poor show to give a meat pie to a vegetarian - inexcusable in fact. I was given a (meat) burger on 3 consecutive occasions when asking for a veggie pie - fortunately that was a lot easier to spot than being given a meat pie.

 

[Bry Nylon]

Let's look at a few things. It's widely speculated that our revenue was a lot less than expected last season, meaning Tony Bloom had to spend out more of his own cash to help out, and Ken Brown lost his job.

If I recall, the comments at the time were that the revenues were extremely healthy, but the costs in too many areas of the business were out of control, leaving a smaller operating margin than projected.

As Ken Brown discovered, revenues count for f*** all if you can't control your costs.

 

[Notters]

How do you check the contents of the pie without getting into the pie itself?

It's a very, very poor show to give a meat pie to a vegetarian - inexcusable in fact. I was given a (meat) burger on 3 consecutive occasions when asking for a veggie pie - fortunately that was a lot easier to spot than being given a meat pie.

You can usually see the contents spewing out the top to a certain extent. But if I were a vegie I'd be ripping them open with my fingers first!

 

[Meade's Ball]

I became alarmed a few days ago at the cost of Colmans powdered cheddar cheese sauce. 69p for some unsnortable powder before i've even forked out the money for milk. It would be cheaper to buy some unprocessed cheese and grate a tenth of it into a half pint of milk to make the same, and probably tastier, 5 nights in a row.
I suppose everything is going up madly in cost. The Albion looking to increase revenue by upping the price on that that we've grown addicted to seems not completely unreasonable. I'd say most of the time people asking themselves the question of whether they'd rather walk for 45 minutes to get to a pub after a thrilling match that they want to discuss with friends over pints, or pick up an average-priced one in a plastic glass immediately to even muddle the memories of the recently spectacular, then they'd more than not pick the latter.
If the prices keep on rising and the quality at all drops, then people will oft think of a plan B. For now, though, i think we'll get used to it and enough of the 20odd thousand fans will still eat and drink their days away.

Now, Dear Colmans,

I've got it in for you now and shan't by your quickmix pap again.

Up yours

Meado McBall.

 

[Meade's Ball]

You can usually see the contents spewing out the top to a certain extent. But if I were a vegie I'd be ripping them open with my fingers first!

Us veggies are actually the knife and fork brigade. We're not about to tear at all foodstuffs like you ZOMBIES.

 

[BUTTERBALL]

The number of stewards on duty at non match day events is alarming, all standing around with nothing to do. There is an immediate saving.

If they can control costs and offer better service, serving more people quickly, then they will earn more revenue without putting up prices.

 

[bazbha]

It seems that prices have risen in general judging by the price of the Chelsea tickets & refreshments. If season ticket prices rise sharply next season in a similar way i won't renew. I'm a JCB & the main attraction for me was being able to pay £35 or so a month to watch football - if that suddenly shoots up I won't come back. I could afford it but I refuse to be ripped off. What worries me even more is if the pay monthly plan stops. I'm sure thats the only reason we now have so many season ticket holders. I love the Amex & the great football on offer but the new MD worries me. The club have attracted thousands of people like me & i really hope Mr Barber doesn't ruin it all.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

£3.90 a pint, about the same as it is in London, and about 30p more a pint than in Brighton town centre. Don't see how you can argue with that really, find me a football ground that sells alcohol at the same price it sells in the town.

Say you have an average of 3 pints per game, that equates to 90p more per game, or £20.70 more a season than drinking in the town. If you can afford £400 for a season ticket, but can't afford £420, then I suggest you need some help with your financial planning.

What? £4 for a pint of Amstell in the 01

 

[Superphil]

There's also no snacks or chocolate anymore in the 1901 Club. Disappointing for kids as they don't always want a pie. In regards to the pies, you now have to queue at the bar and order one and they bring it out. They have got rid of the kiosk that sold pies, baguette, crisps and chocolate. I asked and they said they won't be selling snacks all season. Also, I ordered two pies which came to £7.50. I might just have a burger from the van by the station from now on.

Finally, I counted 12 seats in our lounge today which holds 220 people. Lots of unhappy older fans and kids sitting on the floor.

Think you'll find the snacks/sandwiches etc will be back for the proper season. As for the seats, the same in other lounges, they keep saying they will get more in, perhaps that's all due soon.

 

[Superphil]

What? £4 for a pint of Amstell in the 01

£3.60 if you're sensible.

 

[yxee]

I agree, was a poor show yesterday.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

£3.60 if you're sensible.

How ? Where ? Smartcard?

 

[SeagullSongs]

We went to Wembley the other day and it was £24 for 2 portions of fish and chips and 2 bottles of Fosters.

 

[tubaman]

£7.50 for pie and pint, nothing advertised for pie and soft drink.

Thats £7.50 for a pie and a pint IF you can find a kiosk that is selling both at the same time!!

If Azure want to make more profit I would suggest that they get rid of some of their managers / supervisors and train all their staff properly so that they can help one another if somebody has a problem. I saw one supervisor supposedly helping a member of staff who had a problem on a till. He failed miserably and then just walked off leaving the queue getting bigger. The other supervisors/ managers were running around the concourse like headless chickens with boxes of pies on their shoulders. I did eventually get a pie but it was cold and soggy. I couldn't take it back because there was nothing to exchange it with.

Come on Azure this wasn't a test event you have had a year to get this right. Do we have to put with this incompetence until your contract expires?

 

[middletoenail]

Surely a pricing comparison has been performed against all clubs in our division, and this price increase has aligned ourselves with others?

I NEVER use cash at the Amex so the prices are always 10% less, and it amazes how many people still don't use the eCash card.

 

[fataddick]

I've never understood why anyone would buy food in a football ground. If you're at something that goes on all day like cricket or tennis, yeah you'll need something to eat, but at FOOTBALL? If you honestly can't go two hours without filling your fat face, you should speak to a doctor.

 

[Bry Nylon]

Guess which company has the following on their website? Laughable....

Our specialist stadia catering team enable clients to develop the full commercial potential and reputation of their stadia as venues that provide a great all-round customer experience.

We provide every type of food service at major events from fine dining to cafeteria and fast refreshments for large numbers of customers. We use the best ingredients to create and serve excellent food that meets the tastes of our customers and represents great value. We ensure it is served by people who genuinely care about the enjoyment of customers and want to bring pleasure through their work.

Our specialist stadia marketing team provides expert help to clients who want to maximise the value of their stadia by developing revenues from corporate and private bookings for conferences, meetings and celebrations.

In addition to stadia catering, we offer a range of stadia Site Services.

Because the quality of our services depends so directly on our people, we’re dedicated to being the best place to work in our industry. A place where people thrive, in a culture and in a structure that ensures they are empowered to deliver what has been promised to our clients and their customers.

 

[Hove Seagull]

Speed of service is the obstacle to making the most revenue. So many people, yesterday, saw the speed of the queues in WSL and decided not to bother. Why do the kiosk staff insist on only listening to the first thing you ask for, then ambling off to get that, then asking what else you want, again only listening to the first thing, then ambling off to get that..etc. The fella serving me yesterday couldn't even understand the words "Two diet cokes please".
BTW, two plain burgers (because they had run out of cheese) and two diet cokes was £13 before discount.

 

[Bozza]

I've never understood why anyone would buy food in a football ground. If you're at something that goes on all day like cricket or tennis, yeah you'll need something to eat, but at FOOTBALL? If you honestly can't go two hours without filling your fat face, you should speak to a doctor.

And I can never understand twats like you who can't envisage a situation where, for example, someone has to dash to football after a morning at work and might be peckish between their breakfast at 8am and dinner at 7pm.

There are numerous reasons why people may want to grab something to eat at the Amex beyond being gluttonous pigs.

(And that's not to mention that for many people getting to and from the Amex with a football match sandwiched in between is more likely to be at least 4-5 hours, not just 2.)