A few Post Game Observations from the East Side

[spacemonkey]

We are leaving a lot of money on the table by not getting buyers what they want. Concessions should have MANY more points of sale.

[HkyMtneer]

It all comes down to the fact that Appalachian State Food Services are simply not equipped to handle this job. Nothing against those fine folks...they do a wonderful job with the many dining facilities across campus. The problem is that those positions are fixed, consistent, and experience "normal". A stadium's concessions facilities are anything but. What works one week might not work the next. What works one season might completely flip the next season. People are fickle, tastes are fickle, and a stadium/arena environment is one where the vendor is constantly chasing and evolving based on so many outside factors, such as weather, time of year, event timing, etc. Food Services does not have the experience, staffing, or resources to accommodate and that will not be changing anytime soon. They need to go. Any "additional" revenue that may be generated by keeping it sort-of in-house versus hiring the contract out to a Sodexho, Compass, or Delaware North is lost in other ways, such as the casual fan throwing up their hands at how a place can run out of a hot dog or sell a warm drink, even on a cold day. Simply put, it's time for DG to bite the bullet and yank Food Services and sign a real professional to handle a unique job and figure out a way to make up the potential lost income elsewhere. It's just not worth it at this point. I realize that we are locked in at this stage of the game for this season, and Doug obviously has a lot of irons in the fire that aren't going anywhere this next off-season, but the concessions program needs to be on the shortlist for 2020...no doubt.

[QueencityApp]

I know this is an East side thread BUT can anyone please confirm Woodland’s BBQ is still available in the stadium? Please say yes

[BUTCH1991]

No

[NewApp]

I know this is an East side thread BUT can anyone please confirm Woodland’s BBQ is still available in the stadium? Please say yes

Not available for the first time in decades, much to my chagrin.

[AppinVA]

A tradition will end Saturday as I won’t have a Woodlands sammich during the second quarter of my first game of the season for the first time in over 20 years.

If this is what getting old is like, I want no part of it.

[T-Dog]

Replace it with a Cardinal burger behind the scoreboard.

[Appmanrcb]

There were vending machines in the stadium with water and soft drinks for $4 a pop. They had card readers but they weren't working and could only take cash.

If you have cash, there's shorter concession lines at smaller POS locations on the hill and on the ends of the stands.

Part of my point is that we get a lot of "casual fans" on the East Side. Many made it to half time and either went under the stands or left. When some on here talk about growing the fan base (which i think is important), we need to give these "guests" a better than expected experience. We want them to come back (even if it's only for one game every year or two). My fear is that they are talking about the heat, lack of drinks/ice and long concession lines vs. the App. State Football Brand.

The same thing with our visiting teams. Hopefully, they enjoy their stadium experience (minus a victory) as much as we diehards do. That way any time their team is in Boone, it's a go to game.

As t4pizza mentioned, we had it down in the 80's. Enter the stadium on the West Side. Get in the line to the right and grab a Souvenir Cup with Ice (sponsored by Hardee's) and a drink and keep on walking to your seat.

I was one of the fans that left for cover, although my 7yr old pulling on my arm and telling me how hot she was heavily influenced me. But the points made are valid. Overall we are a spoiled fan base, and I think we all know that the east side concession could run 100 times smoother. That’s the frustrating part for most of us I feel like. I was completely surprised how effective the beer lines were, I used them for water over the concession lines.

[GregPercussion]

There were vending machines in the stadium with water and soft drinks for $4 a pop. They had card readers but they weren't working and could only take cash.

If you have cash, there's shorter concession lines at smaller POS locations on the hill and on the ends of the stands.

Part of my point is that we get a lot of "casual fans" on the East Side. Many made it to half time and either went under the stands or left. When some on here talk about growing the fan base (which i think is important), we need to give these "guests" a better than expected experience. We want them to come back (even if it's only for one game every year or two). My fear is that they are talking about the heat, lack of drinks/ice and long concession lines vs. the App. State Football Brand.

The same thing with our visiting teams. Hopefully, they enjoy their stadium experience (minus a victory) as much as we diehards do. That way any time their team is in Boone, it's a go to game.

As t4pizza mentioned, we had it down in the 80's. Enter the stadium on the West Side. Get in the line to the right and grab a Souvenir Cup with Ice (sponsored by Hardee's) and a drink and keep on walking to your seat.

I was one of the fans that left for cover, although my 7yr old pulling on my arm and telling me how hot she was heavily influenced me. But the points made are valid. Overall we are a spoiled fan base, and I think we all know that the east side concession could run 100 times smoother. That’s the frustrating part for most of us I feel like. I was completely surprised how effective the beer lines were, I used them for water over the concession lines.

It's super important for our visitors and "casual fans" to have a great time. I sing the praises all the time of how well Charlotte handled our game last year. Parking, food lines, water stations, seating.

We have to do better.

[ericsaid]

Football talk: No Turnovers.

And if you needed more evidence of why that matters, look at the play by play of the Notre Dame - Louisville game.

[MrCraig]

There were vending machines in the stadium with water and soft drinks for $4 a pop. They had card readers but they weren't working and could only take cash.

If you have cash, there's shorter concession lines at smaller POS locations on the hill and on the ends of the stands.

Part of my point is that we get a lot of "casual fans" on the East Side. Many made it to half time and either went under the stands or left. When some on here talk about growing the fan base (which i think is important), we need to give these "guests" a better than expected experience. We want them to come back (even if it's only for one game every year or two). My fear is that they are talking about the heat, lack of drinks/ice and long concession lines vs. the App. State Football Brand.

The same thing with our visiting teams. Hopefully, they enjoy their stadium experience (minus a victory) as much as we diehards do. That way any time their team is in Boone, it's a go to game.

As t4pizza mentioned, we had it down in the 80's. Enter the stadium on the West Side. Get in the line to the right and grab a Souvenir Cup with Ice (sponsored by Hardee's) and a drink and keep on walking to your seat.

I was one of the fans that left for cover, although my 7yr old pulling on my arm and telling me how hot she was heavily influenced me. But the points made are valid. Overall we are a spoiled fan base, and I think we all know that the east side concession could run 100 times smoother. That’s the frustrating part for most of us I feel like. I was completely surprised how effective the beer lines were, I used them for water over the concession lines.

It's super important for our visitors and "casual fans" to have a great time. I sing the praises all the time of how well Charlotte handled our game last year. Parking, food lines, water stations, seating.

We have to do better.

You obviously haven't been on this board much. We don't need "casual fans" or away fans. We should shun any "fan" who doesn't come to every game no matter the weather. Talking about concessions and how any aspect of football operations can be improved is pointless. In fact, all we really need is the 15-20 "true" fans to donate $10 million each to the Yosef Club.

[GregPercussion]

There were vending machines in the stadium with water and soft drinks for $4 a pop. They had card readers but they weren't working and could only take cash.

If you have cash, there's shorter concession lines at smaller POS locations on the hill and on the ends of the stands.

Part of my point is that we get a lot of "casual fans" on the East Side. Many made it to half time and either went under the stands or left. When some on here talk about growing the fan base (which i think is important), we need to give these "guests" a better than expected experience. We want them to come back (even if it's only for one game every year or two). My fear is that they are talking about the heat, lack of drinks/ice and long concession lines vs. the App. State Football Brand.

The same thing with our visiting teams. Hopefully, they enjoy their stadium experience (minus a victory) as much as we diehards do. That way any time their team is in Boone, it's a go to game.

As t4pizza mentioned, we had it down in the 80's. Enter the stadium on the West Side. Get in the line to the right and grab a Souvenir Cup with Ice (sponsored by Hardee's) and a drink and keep on walking to your seat.

I was one of the fans that left for cover, although my 7yr old pulling on my arm and telling me how hot she was heavily influenced me. But the points made are valid. Overall we are a spoiled fan base, and I think we all know that the east side concession could run 100 times smoother. That’s the frustrating part for most of us I feel like. I was completely surprised how effective the beer lines were, I used them for water over the concession lines.

It's super important for our visitors and "casual fans" to have a great time. I sing the praises all the time of how well Charlotte handled our game last year. Parking, food lines, water stations, seating.

We have to do better.

You obviously haven't been on this board much. We don't need "casual fans" or away fans. We should shun any "fan" who doesn't come to every game no matter the weather. Talking about concessions and how any aspect of football operations can be improved is pointless. In fact, all we really need is the 15-20 "true" fans to donate $10 million each to the Yosef Club.

Obviously this board is for all fans. Regardless of how many games they go to or their ability and willingness to donate their time and money to athletics.

We should always strive to do more and do better.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

We'd have more fans in the seats to cheer on our team if half of them weren't waiting in the ridiculous and inexcusably long and impassable lines in the East side concourse. Getting anything was a 30+ minute wait and journey to the bathroom would have made Hudspeth have an aneurysm.

[App91]

Crazy, all off season all we wanted was some football to talk about and now that we have it all we can talk about is everything but the actual game.

There should be another section for this stuff on yosefs cabin. Its embarrassing to see how many people care so much about food. I dont judge people who eat, I personally would never eat at a game...we spend hours tailgating and dinner after...you have to be eating and drinking all day? Nevertheless, if you must just understand you will miss part of the game because you love the food so much.

Not noteworthy football talk.

I don’t have a problem talking about all the other stuff, I just figured the main conversation would be about the game

there are plenty of threads about the game, go enjoy some of those rather than comment here

[App91]

Beer line was good. I went there to get water, it was quicker than the concessions line.

Interesting, west side lines were horrible. after about 10 minutes of the line not moving and no appearance of a clue. we got out of line. Didnt buy one, lost revenue. Major problem in the concourse is that beer/concession lines ran from side to side blocking any sort or ingress/regress north and south. They are going to have to figure this part out. Could be major safety hazard.

[asu7]

I sit on the East Side and they are long lines. The whole concourse over there is two narrow to do anything.

It would help to have multiple drink concessions setup with the ability to take cards. I think most just want a drink. You could easily have a few more beer stations like we did this past game setup everywhere. Let them sale water and soda as well. More stations means less lines. More stations also mean more people so I dunno if that is even possible.

[WVAPPeer]

" We should shun any "fan" who doesn't come to every game no matter the weather. "

Geez, here's hoping you can talk this big and bad when you are in your 70s ---

[MrCraig]

" We should shun any "fan" who doesn't come to every game no matter the weather. "

Geez, here's hoping you can talk this big and bad when you are in your 70s ---

Sorry, I guess I should've put a /s so everyone would know I was being sarcastic. I was referencing how upset some people on this site were last year when the SB championship and the previous game against Troy weren't overflowing.

I, for one, agree that the game day operations could be much improved. I'm just picking on all the over-serious Yosef's Cabin posters.

[MrCraig]

Part of my point is that we get a lot of "casual fans" on the East Side. Many made it to half time and either went under the stands or left. When some on here talk about growing the fan base (which i think is important), we need to give these "guests" a better than expected experience. We want them to come back (even if it's only for one game every year or two). My fear is that they are talking about the heat, lack of drinks/ice and long concession lines vs. the App. State Football Brand.

The same thing with our visiting teams. Hopefully, they enjoy their stadium experience (minus a victory) as much as we diehards do. That way any time their team is in Boone, it's a go to game.

As t4pizza mentioned, we had it down in the 80's. Enter the stadium on the West Side. Get in the line to the right and grab a Souvenir Cup with Ice (sponsored by Hardee's) and a drink and keep on walking to your seat.

I was one of the fans that left for cover, although my 7yr old pulling on my arm and telling me how hot she was heavily influenced me. But the points made are valid. Overall we are a spoiled fan base, and I think we all know that the east side concession could run 100 times smoother. That’s the frustrating part for most of us I feel like. I was completely surprised how effective the beer lines were, I used them for water over the concession lines.

It's super important for our visitors and "casual fans" to have a great time. I sing the praises all the time of how well Charlotte handled our game last year. Parking, food lines, water stations, seating.

We have to do better.

You obviously haven't been on this board much. We don't need "casual fans" or away fans. We should shun any "fan" who doesn't come to every game no matter the weather. Talking about concessions and how any aspect of football operations can be improved is pointless. In fact, all we really need is the 15-20 "true" fans to donate $10 million each to the Yosef Club.

Obviously this board is for all fans. Regardless of how many games they go to or their ability and willingness to donate their time and money to athletics.

We should always strive to do more and do better.

Sorry, I guess I should've worked harder to make sure my sarcasm got across. I completely agree with you. I love App, and I want everyone to love App, and I want to do whatever we need to do to make sure that everyone loves App. And I'm not being sarcastic at all when I say that.

[huskie3]

We could do like some other stadiums, allow two unopened bottles of water per person to be carried in.