Food policy for thought
Those who buy peanuts and Cracker Jack outside Minute Maid Park can’t bring them in
Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
June 9, 2009, 12:59AM
As Major League Baseball does all it can to get recession-strapped fans through the turnstiles, a day at 29 of 30 MLB ballparks includes the option of bringing your own sandwiches, snacks, bottled water, soft drinks or, in some cases, all of the above.
That leaves the Astros, and their stance on the matter is stated in their A-to-Z fan guide for Minute Maid Park.
“Visitors may not bring food or beverage items into the ballpark,” it says.
Banning outside food at Astros games “has been kind of a tradition in Houston,” said Astros owner Drayton McLane, who purchased the team in 1992.
But in cities such as Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Philadelphia, bringing food to the ballpark is the tradition of choice. And at least four teams — the Nationals, Mariners, Giants and Orioles — consider their
food policy so essential to fan enjoyment they featured it in MLB’s 23-page outline of “affordable ticket options” for 2009.
In Seattle, “There is a healthy market of hot dogs, kettle corn, peanuts, etc., on the streets surrounding the ballpark on game days,” said Mariners spokeswoman Rebecca Hale. “I’ve seen people come through turnstiles with stacks of pizza boxes, and once I saw several college-age boys carrying a six-foot sub sandwich through the gate.”
Garlic fries are a part of the baseball experience at AT&T Park in San Francisco, but the Giants have allowed fans to bring in food since their Candlestick Park days.
“It gives (fans) a choice, and it gives them options, especially in this economic climate,” said Giants spokeswoman Shana Daum. “Now more than ever, I think they appreciate it.”
When baseball returned to the nation’s capital, the Nationals were glad to dispense with the bureaucracy of culinary red tape that has been a constant of Astros baseball.
“We think that we have affordable food options, especially when compared to different sports and entertainment venues,” said Nationals spokeswoman Chartese Burnett. “But we don’t want to make that assumption. If folks want to bring in something, we feel they should be allowed to do so.”
Baltimore began the trend toward retro-themed baseball parks with Camden Yards in 1992, and fans have always been allowed to bring food and non-alcoholic beverages to the ballpark, said spokeswoman Monica Barlow.
“This is definitely a popular policy with our fans, especially in these economic times,” she said.
Most MLB teams list their policies on outside food and drink on their Web sites. Details generally can be found by clicking on the “A to Z Guide” under the stadium tab.
As for the Astros, Pam Gardner, the team’s president for business operations, said the team has opted to provide less expensive tickets rather than following suit with other teams regarding food and beverage rules.
“Our financial model, dating back to the Astrodome, was dependent on a number of revenue areas, including food and beverage,” Gardner said in an e-mail. “We elected to make our appeal to fans in the form of a $7 (for adults) and $1 ticket (for children) every day. I don’t think you will find many teams offering a $1 ticket.”
Indeed, only the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers advertise seats for a buck each. (The Brewers call them “Uecker Seats” in honor of broadcaster Bob Uecker, who made several bucks bragging for assorted commercials about his seat locations.)
The Colorado Rockies advertise their cheapest tickets at $4 each, and the bottom price for Nationals, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals games is $5.
Aramark in the mix
Gardner also noted that the Astros’ relationship with Aramark, which operates concessions and/or premium food services at 13 MLB parks, including Minute Maid, “is predicated on their exclusivity on food and beverage.”
An Aramark spokesman would not comment on the company’s relationship with the Astros but said such policies are established by MLB teams “primarily (as) a matter of security and food safety.”
Even though fans cannot bring food or water into Minute Maid Park, Gardner notes that the move to downtown Houston in 2000 has provided considerably more dining options for fans than the barren landscape of the Astrodome parking lot.
“Each MLB team designs their model to work in their particular market,” she said. “In our case, our move downtown was intended to provide a variety of choices for fans, including bringing a picnic to enjoy on Halliburton Plaza or taking advantage of the dozens of restaurants around the ballpark. Purchasing food in the ballpark is a choice, and we strive to provide great quality and competitive prices .”
Gardner and McLane noted the Texans and Rockets ban outside food and drink. Rockets policies are in keeping with those of other NBA teams. The Texans allow tailgating on the Harris County-owned lots surrounding Reliant Stadium. The Astros do not allow tailgating on team-controlled parking lots surrounding Minute Maid Park.
Packages available
Like their MLB counterparts, the Astros offer ticket and concession package deals throughout the season. That list includes an all-you-can-eat promotion on Thursdays; the Diamondbacks, Braves, Reds, Dodgers, Pirates and Rangers offer similar plans for each home game.
In addition to lower prices for outfield deck tickets, the Astros list several incentives in MLB’s 23-page summary of fan economy offers. I ncluded are a Friday night food/ticket/cap package for four fans sponsored by Coca-Cola and 10 “Price Matters” ticket/food combo promotional dates (six dates remain).
Because Houston’s baseball culture has never in recent memory included the option of bringing food to ballgames, fans at a recent Astros game were generally unfazed by the notion that Houston has MLB’s most restrictive rules in that regard.
“It never crossed my mind about bringing something in,” Darren Blanton said. “It wouldn’t make any difference to me.”
Jeremy White of Pasadena, in the middle of downing a plate of nachos on the upper-deck concourse, said less restrictive policies wouldn’t change his plans.
“I’d still come to the game if I wanted to come to the game,” he said. “Maybe it would be nice to bring a bottle of water, but I normally get a soft drink or a beer every now and then.”
But some fans come to the park for sports, not dining.
“We come to watch baseball,” Jeff Solomon of Houston said. “I’m not here to eat.”
CHEW ON THIS
Here are the rules for outside food and beverages allowed by the 30 Major League Baseball teams. All details are available from team Web sites with the exception of items noted with an asterisk, which were confirmed by telephone inquiries to the respective ballclubs. In the case of the Rangers, information is included on a recorded phone message, but not on the Web site. All teams ban alcohol, glass bottles, cans and hard-sided coolers and do not allow food to be brought into suites or club seating areas.
Angels
*Food is allowed if carried in a soft-sided container such as a paper bag or plastic bag.
Bottled water will be allowed in the ballpark as long as it conforms to the specifications listed below: It must be in a "store bought" clear plastic bottle. It must be no larger than 1 Liter (33.814 US fluid ounces).
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/ana/ballpark/guide.jsp
Astros
Visitors may not bring food or beverage items into the ballpark.
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/hou/ballpark/guide.jsp
Athletics
*Food and drinks in plastic bottles are allowed.
Blue Jays
Rogers Centre allows guests to bring food into the stadium as long as the items are wrapped, bagged or left inside a container to avoid spillage. Food containers must be soft-sided and small enough to fit under the guest's seat.
Plastic bottles holding 600 milliliters or less will be permitted.
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/tor/ballpark/a_z_guide.jsp
Braves
Food, drinks (non-glass, non-aluminum) and soft-sided coolers (with the plastic liner removed) are permitted.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/ballpark/guide.jsp
Brewers
Guests may bring food items into Miller Park using appropriate containers. Soda, water or juice must be contained in factory sealed plastic bottles.
http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/mil/ballpark/ballpark_guide.jsp
Cardinals
*Food is allowed in clear plastic bags.
Non-alcoholic beverages including water and soda in open cups or in clear plastic bottles no larger than 2 liters are allowed.
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/stl/ballpark/ballpark_guide.jsp
Cubs
Visitors may bring food or drink items into the ballpark, which are packaged in acceptable containers.
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/ballpark/guide.jsp
Diamondbacks
Any food item should be brought in a clear plastic grocery-style bag.
Only non-flavored/non-carbonated water in sealed, plastic bottles, empty plastic water bottles and sealed, single-serving juice boxes are allowed.
http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/ari/ballpark/ari_ballpark_guide.jsp
Dodgers
Food is permitted from outside the stadium provided it is not in bottles, cans, coolers or thermoses. Unbroken, factory sealed plastic bottles of water and other non-alcoholic beverages of a liter or less are permitted.
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/ballpark/ballpark_guide_list.jsp
Giants
Fans are also allowed to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks to the ballpark. Sealed plastic bottles and soft-sided juice containers containing non-alcoholic beverages are allowed in AT&T Park. Unsealed plastic bottles and soft-sided containers will be subject to inspection and may be confiscated.
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/ballpark/ballparkguide_list.jsp
Indians
Small single-serving juice boxes and food items are permitted. Plastic beverage containers are prohibited.
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/ballpark/guide.jsp
Mariners
Food brought into the ballpark must be wrapped, bagged or inside a container. Items such as apples and oranges must be quartered.
No outside beverages, including water/ice, may be brought into Safeco Field. Exceptions are made for guests with medical needs, baby bottles and unopened, soft-sided, single-serve containers (such as small milk cartons, juice boxes, etc.). Guests may bring in empty plastic sports bottles and fill them at any of the 66 drinking fountains located throughout the ballpark.
http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/sea/ballpark/sea_ballpark_guide.jsp
Marlins
*Sandwiches and other small food items are allowed if sealed in clear plastic bags.
Hard fruits are permitted if cut into small portions. Permitted items include sealed plastic soft drink and water bottles.
http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/fla/ballpark/policies.jsp
Mets
*Fans can bring in a “reasonable amount” of food, sandwiches and unopened bags of snacks, carried in plastic supermarket bags. Fans also can bring in sealed plastic water bottles and cardboard juice boxes.
Note: The Mets’ Web site says outside food is not allowed, but a spokeswoman said the above description is the current policy and that the Web site will be amended to reflect this.
Nationals
All food items must be contained in single serving bags within a soft-sided container or cooler. Metal, plastic or glass containers of any kind (except for factory-sealed, plastic water bottles, no larger than one liter and juice boxes) are prohibited. Only one bottle of water per person will be permitted.
http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/was/ballpark/a-z_guide.jsp
Orioles
*Food is allowed, preferably carried inside a soft-sided cooler.
Non-alcoholic beverages in plastic bottles will be permitted into the park.
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/bal/ballpark/guide.jsp
Padres
All food items should be wrapped, bagged, or left inside a container to avoid spillage. Food that might be thrown as a projectile must be sliced or sectioned (i.e., oranges, apples and other fruits). Food containers must be soft-sided and small enough to fit under the guest's seat.
Factory-sealed, bottled water that is 20 ounces or less and soft-sided single juice and milk containers are the only outside beverages permitted into Petco Park.
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/sd/ballpark/petcopark_a-z.jsp
Phillies
*Fans can bring in food and plastic, unopened bottles of water.
Pirates
Guests are permitted to bring bottled water and food that may fit into a 16 x 16 x 8 soft-sided bag. Water bottles should not exceed 24 ounces in size, and must be clear, plastic, sealed and disposable. Children's juice boxes and items necessary for medical purposes are permitted.
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/ballpark/pit_ballpark_guide.jsp
Rangers
*There are no food restrictions. Drinks are allowed only in cardboard or plastic containers. Coolers must be soft-sided. No Styrofoam containers are allowed.
Rays
Food items and water are allowed. All food brought in must be contained in a clear plastic bag. Bottled water must be sealed and no more than one liter in volume.
http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/tb/ballpark/ballpark_guide.jsp
Red Sox
No food can be brought into the ballpark and only sealed bottled waters of 16 ounces or less are allowed.
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/guide.jsp#F
Reds
*The Great American Ball Park allows fans to bring in snacks, homemade sandwiches, food and fast food, but not beverages from fast food restaurants.
Guests are welcome to bring in soft drinks and water provided they are in clear plastic bottles and the safety seal has not been broken. Insulated foam cups/containers from restaurants, convenience stores or gas stations, etc. are not permitted.
http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/cin/ballpark/cin_ballpark_gabp_azguide.jsp
Rockies
Guests can bring in food items, any fruit or vegetable grapefruit-sized or smaller, plastic beverage containers and insulated cups or thermoses 22 ounces or smaller.
http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/col/ballpark/ballpark_guide.jsp
Royals
Guests may bring food and water into the stadium, provided the water is in a plastic bottle or cup and the food is packaged in soft-sided containers that do not exceed the maximum size of 16-by-6-by-8 inches.
http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/kc/ballpark/guide.jsp
Tigers
Guests are permitted to bring food and sealed clear bottles of plain, unflavored water into Comerica Park. Juice boxes are also allowed for children.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/det/ticketing/ballparkguide_list.jsp#food
Twins
Fans may bring food items into the Metrodome, provided they are in small paper or plastic bags.
*Outside beverages are not allowed into the stadium.
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ballpark/ballpark_guide.jsp
White Sox
Guests can carry in food in a small, see-through plastic bag and are each allowed one sealed plastic bottle of water, one liter or less in size, but no other beverages of any kind.
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/cws/ballpark/cws_ballpark_guide_dir.jsp#Carry-inItems
Yankees
*Food is allowed if wrapped in see-through plastic bags or sandwich bags.
No bottles or cans are permitted with the exception of transparent plastic water bottles. The water bottle must be full and factory-sealed. It cannot be a container from home, and it must only be filled with water. Exceptions may be made for empty plastic sports bottles, baby bottles, health-related materials and unopened soft-sided single-serve containers (such as small milk cartons, juice boxes, etc.).
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/nyy/ballpark/guide.jsp
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