BEER BIG BUSINESS AT BALLPARKS

The New York Post ^ | 7-4-2003 | Phil Mushnick

[Tacis]

Yes, but you presume a lot. Out of the profit from beer unusual other costs are covered. In the building of the stadium and the letting of all related contracts, there were many "gifts" to politicians and public employees. These couldn't be mentioned in the budget but had to be paid for some way.

Additionally, the consessionaire has phantom employees on his payroll, politicians relatives, union members, and special friends of family connections (if you know what I mean) and their salaries have to be covered.

When the revenue seems to exceed the perceived cost by such a large amount that the profit seems extraordinary, especially where there are public sector interests involved, ALWAYS look for a slush fund to cover costs that are not obvious.

[zarf]

That's too bad. Where else would the middle class clap for and give money to millionares?

As long as the idoits keep going to the games, the downward spiral will continue.

[speedy]

At least the Tigers don't have a $170 million payroll, so they have some excuse for playing so poorly. Sad about the Tigers -- doesn't seem so long ago they had Trammel and Whittaker and Gibson and Parrish and Morris. I can even remember the Kaline/Cash/McAuliffe/Freehan teams. A long climb down for those Bengals.

[speedy]

If they do, I'll be there. And my first shot might be at Robin Ventura. Great guy, but totally washed up.

[speedy]

I hope they have been drinking. At least it would explain their embarrassing play.

[dennisw]

Al Kaline Norm Cash BUMP.

[SC Swamp Fox]

"Hard Liquor and Handgun Night"

I thought that was Hockey?

[speedy]

Jim Northrup/Ray Oyler/Don Wert/Earl Wilson BUMP!!

[dennisw]

Al Kaline, Norm Cash is the best I can do since I'm not from Detroit. Norm topped out at .388 the year they were pulling for him to best Ted Williams. Tell me if I'm wrong.

And no I don't bother with baseball today's baseball.

[speedy]

I grew up outside of Philly but have long been a baseball fanatic. Actually, Norm hit .361 in 1961, which was the best average during something like a 25 year period until Carew hit .388 and later Brett hit .390. Cash unfortunately drowned sometime in the 1990s, I believe. A Detroiter would know that one.

[dennisw]

Norm Cash stats. You are right about his best year. Anyway, he did well by the Tigers.

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=cashno01

[SamAdams76]

Well $6.50 for a 16-oz paper cup of swill is ridiculous. That's probably the main reason I don't go to major-league games anymore (or any other "professional" sporting event). I go to minor league games now. The Lowell Spinners (a Red Sox farm team) have not only a great stadium but you can get REAL beer for $3.00 a cup. Not that watered down rice that Budweiser puts out but something halfway decent like Red Hook Ale or Killians Red.

[bootless]

Yeah, such a change, hmm? Actually, I hear their pitching is about in the middle of the AL...

I have to say that the A's have done pretty well over the last few years with terrific young talent for not too many $$ ... until their contracts are up and they sign with the Yanks.

Was Hank Greenberg a Tiger?

[bootless]

Actually, I think it was a Bob Costas but (maybe?) - referring to the Toledo Mud Hens. Now minor league ball - THAT's fun! :-)

[speedy]

Yes, Greenberg was a great slugger who played most of his career in the 1930s. There is a plaque on the house he was born in in Greenwich Village that I have passed several times.

As for the A's -- their GM has made it his business to keep them in contention while not really trying too hard to re-sign free agents. He is not even interested in trying to keep them, he enjoys working from scratch. I think Giambi is the only one who signed with the Yankees, though that is a big signing, no doubt.

[speedy]

Oops, should have added, most of his career was with the Tigers. He was their key hitter, along with fellow Hall of Famers Mickey Cochrane and Charlie Gehringer, after the Ty Cobb/Harry Heilman era had passed.

[kylaka]

That $800 is called gross profit, because what the government does to it after it is made is GROSS. The NET profit, before TAXES is probably a respectable 25%, with a net net of around 16%. That is less than the rate of inflation under an idiot like Jimmuh Carter. Lord knows, smart businessmen bank a little dough when they can in case somebody like ALGORE gets elected president.

[neb52]

From what I have been told, the Movie Theatres make nothing on the ticket sales for the first two weeks and then get a bigger percentage every week the movie stays out. The sad part is most movies don't last but a few weeks, before being kicked to the dollar theatres. That is why they hype up the preordained blockbusters like The Matrix, so the theatres can bank on the concession sales.

[neb52]

Ha! us A-towners can do better. Try building a taxpayer funded staduim then turn it over to the team for FREE!! years before the taxpayers are done paying for it. This was the only beef I had with Bush back then. He and his partners got a free staduim for the Rangers then turned around packaged it with the sale of the team to Hicks. Actually I can't be mad at Bush for this, it was quite the business pull-off of the century. Its those idiots we had for City Councilmen/women who sold our city out every turn. We finally booted most of them out of office this past spring.

[Trajan88]

Bottled water at aTm's Kyle Field goes for $4.00 per. Keep in mind game time temps, even in early rOctober, hover in the mid-80s.

Gig 'Em Texas aTm Aggies... beat the hell outta t.u.

Trajan88; TAMU Class of '88