Falcon's Fan First Concession Pricing

Old Fart Tree

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Me too. Is there a reason, other than not terribly methodologically defensible "super bowl loss hangover season effect"? Is he injured? Is the line materially worse? Same skill position players, right?
 

Van Everyman

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I think the latter is a legit reason. Shanahan may or may not be a good HC. And he def. made some indefensible playcalls in LI. But I read a number of criticisms after the Pats beat them this year of their approach—from how the playbook is just this hodgepodge of ATL playbooks past to how Ryan‘s reads are all screwed up—that suggested to me that the OC doesn’t really know what he’s doing.

Doesn’t mean Ryan is elite but does suggest that he has an elite ceiling in the right scheme.
 

Monbo Jumbo

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re huge collapse.

One side of the Dome didn't fall. Leading a twitter wag to remark, "They only played three quarters of the implosion"

Cool video shot inside when the charges went off here on the Falcon's page.


Also - the Weather Channel stream where a bus blocks their view precisely as it implodes is awesome.

 

johnmd20

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Amazingly, the fact that the bus blocked the view gave that video way more exposure due to the hilarity of it. I've seen it everywhere the past 12 hours.
 

Reverend

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I'm sure there's a combination of factors that lead into this happening but this line stuck out to me:
The new stadium also had 65 percent more points of sale and 1,264 more beer taps than the Georgia Dome did as well as self-serve soda machines.
Yes, lower prices will get people to buy that hot dog/pretzel/beer but if the lines cause you to miss a significant portion of game time a lot of people just skip it. Having that many more locations to buy helps out a lot.
 

Monbo Jumbo

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Enjoy paying more so they can make up the transaction fee!
Actually they’re lowering prices as part of this process.
Yeah - let's flesh this out a bit.

The stadium initiated low prices and they also initiated 'whole dollar' pricing. With everything in round dollars, it kept lines moving with no change involved. But whole dollar pricing isn't flexible to small changes - by going cashless, they can tweak prices still lower. Here are the new prices.

 

Rough Carrigan

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Yeah - let's flesh this out a bit.

The stadium initiated low prices and they also initiated 'whole dollar' pricing. With everything in round dollars, it kept lines moving with no change involved. But whole dollar pricing isn't flexible to small changes - by going cashless, they can tweak prices still lower. Here are the new prices.

What about that wording on my Federal Reserve notes saying "Legal tender for all debts public and private"?
 

Monbo Jumbo

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What about that wording on my Federal Reserve notes saying "Legal tender for all debts public and private"?

They do take cash - at a kiosk that will spit out a debit card for you to buy your food with. They aren't refusing your cash, you'll just have to wait in two lines.

Your gold's no good there, though. ;)
 
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Papelbon's Poutine

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Yeah - let's flesh this out a bit.

The stadium initiated low prices and they also initiated 'whole dollar' pricing. With everything in round dollars, it kept lines moving with no change involved. But whole dollar pricing isn't flexible to small changes - by going cashless, they can tweak prices still lower. Here are the new prices.

You're gonna have to walk me through how going cashless and lowering prices is making them more money, if there's something I'm missing other than volume from faster transactions?

Small changes, you mean like commodities? Places like this go through companies like Aramark, who have a big enough portfolio that they can lock in pricing and if something fluctuates it's on them, the teams pay a fee and % of sales.
 

Carbo Loading

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You're gonna have to walk me through how going cashless and lowering prices is making them more money, if there's something I'm missing other than volume from faster transactions?

Small changes, you mean like commodities? Places like this go through companies like Aramark, who have a big enough portfolio that they can lock in pricing and if something fluctuates it's on them, the teams pay a fee and % of sales.
I'm sure they've done analysis that they will take in more volume as there will be less "lost sales" from people not having to wait in long lines and walking away with nothing and also with the lower prices they'll buy more items than before. Instead of just buying a hot dog now they'll add on a burger or pretzel bites (and more beers, which is where the profit is).
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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I'm sure they've done analysis that they will take in more volume as there will be less "lost sales" from people not having to wait in long lines and walking away with nothing and also with the lower prices they'll buy more items than before. Instead of just buying a hot dog now they'll add on a burger or pretzel bites (and more beers, which is where the profit is).
I'm sure they've done their analysis, I'm just skeptical it plays out that way. There's plusses - no armored car service, no need for change, just swipe and go, etc - so maybe it evens out, but from the food service side I'm not seeing it. I'd just be interested to see the analysis.

About a dozen years ago, the company I was working for was invited to bid on the concessions and restaurants at the new park for the Nationals, they had just broken ground and were playing at RFK still. Seeing the finances and how the mechanics work, it was kind of eye opening. Everyone think these teams make a shit ton on concessions, but they really don't because they're not running them. They're paying a company, which needs to pay employees and costs. I'd just love to see the math, because it doesn't make sense to me - no one wants to do CC because margins are so thin, that 3% makes a difference. I'm just curious how this is good for them, but maybe their purveyor has some work around to make up the difference. I get the concept, I'm just wondering on execution, should be interesting.

(I also have a full set of blue prints for Nationals Park, thing is ginormous and really cool to flip through.)
 

Ale Xander

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Yeah - let's flesh this out a bit.

The stadium initiated low prices and they also initiated 'whole dollar' pricing. With everything in round dollars, it kept lines moving with no change involved. But whole dollar pricing isn't flexible to small changes - by going cashless, they can tweak prices still lower. Here are the new prices.

Maybe the fans would have preferred keeping prices the same but going to larger sizes and allow cash if exact change?
 

Monbo Jumbo

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I'm sure they've done analysis that they will take in more volume as there will be less "lost sales" from people not having to wait in long lines and walking away with nothing and also with the lower prices they'll buy more items than before. Instead of just buying a hot dog now they'll add on a burger or pretzel bites (and more beers, which is where the profit is).
I'm sure they've done their analysis, I'm just skeptical it plays out that way. There's plusses - no armored car service, no need for change, just swipe and go, etc - so maybe it evens out, but from the food service side I'm not seeing it. I'd just be interested to see the analysis.

About a dozen years ago, the company I was working for was invited to bid on the concessions and restaurants at the new park for the Nationals, they had just broken ground and were playing at RFK still. Seeing the finances and how the mechanics work, it was kind of eye opening. Everyone think these teams make a shit ton on concessions, but they really don't because they're not running them. They're paying a company, which needs to pay employees and costs. I'd just love to see the math, because it doesn't make sense to me - no one wants to do CC because margins are so thin, that 3% makes a difference. I'm just curious how this is good for them, but maybe their purveyor has some work around to make up the difference. I get the concept, I'm just wondering on execution, should be interesting.

(I also have a full set of blue prints for Nationals Park, thing is ginormous and really cool to flip through.)

More details here.

“In our business model, we fight for seconds because our demand is not an even demand," Cannon said. "It comes in very specific moments – before kick, quarter breaks, halftime. And in those moments, we either are able to satisfy that demand or it’s like an airline seat. If it takes off with an empty seat, it’s gone. So really, through-put efficiency and the ability to satisfy demand was at the top of our list.”
They are prioritizing "throughput efficiency" which is Carbo's point of 'long lines and walking away with nothing.' Also - the 'fan experience.'

They say concessions are profitable, but profitability isn't the priority.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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More details here.



They are prioritizing "throughput efficiency" which is Carbo's point of 'long lines and walking away with nothing.' Also - the 'fan experience.'

They say concessions are profitable, but profitability isn't the priority.
I get Carbo’s point I just am skeptical is all. I’d love to see how many people they expect to ‘throughput’ in those ‘limited’ times. How many extra hot dogs can you sell between quarters? It doesn’t take much more time to make change on a rounded number than if you insert your chip and input a pin. What if the system crashes?

Edit: I get the concept - I ran or worked in restaurants for 20 years and I always tried to express to the bar ‘you only have a certain window until last call’. I also told them they had a minimum to make it work unless we had a minimum.

Edit 2: And LOL on the last line. Yes, Blank just has food so everyone can have fun.
 

Hambone

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They run all transactions through a payment gateway before it hits the processor that is probably adding a couple cents to each transaction as well.

I doubt they're using PIN as the transaction fee for PIN debit would rise drastically for the ticket size. That said some credit card issuers are using PIN for verification now.
 

Monbo Jumbo

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After this past season, the Falcons are going to need more than increasingly fan-friendly concession prices and processes to fill their stadium. (Did you see how many empty seats they had for their last few home games in 2018?)
Bigger picture.

Atlanta's average soccer attendance is greater than Liverpool FC. They are in the top 20 in the world. They drew over a million last year. Heck - they probably are covering MLS soccer player salaries with kit sales alone. ATLUTD gear is everywhere in this town. How many NFL home dates are there? How many MLS games? They've got CONCACAF ch-ship games coming in there. And international friendlies too. The latter are pulling 70,000. Are you beginning to see the math here?
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Don’t judge just off what you see for empty seats in the stands. When I lived in dc, the Skins were bad but they still sold out; everyone just spent most of the game in the concourse bars. The places were jammed. Plus I’m sure the new Falcons stadium has many more luxury boxes.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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They run all transactions through a payment gateway before it hits the processor that is probably adding a couple cents to each transaction as well.

I doubt they're using PIN as the transaction fee for PIN debit would rise drastically for the ticket size. That said some credit card issuers are using PIN for verification now.
I wasn’t aware there was a difference, I’ve only seen overall statements.

In that case though, how does that save time? Half the people are going to want to use their debit, then get told no, then argue or don’t have a CC on them; if the argument is fan experience, financing a $4 hit dog doesn’t really seem like a selling point to me, but who knows.
 

djbayko

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Maybe the fans would have preferred keeping prices the same but going to larger sizes and allow cash if exact change?
Yeah, that wouldn't cause any arguments at the register. None at all. And then you still have many of the disadvantages of a cash-based system mentioned upthread. It should be an all-or-nothing decision.
 

Ale Xander

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Yeah, that wouldn't cause any arguments at the register. None at all. And then you still have many of the disadvantages of a cash-based system mentioned upthread. It should be an all-or-nothing decision.
What do you mean by "arguments? "
 

NortheasternPJ

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A bunch of the beer stands at Gillette went Credit Card only this year. It didn't seem to cause any problems and eliminated people fumbling around for cash which did seem speed things up. Often when the CC was processing the worker was already helping the next person while that person signed, which is much faster than them dealing with bills and change.
 

Hambone

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I wasn’t aware there was a difference, I’ve only seen overall statements.

In that case though, how does that save time? Half the people are going to want to use their debit, then get told no, then argue or don’t have a CC on them; if the argument is fan experience, financing a $4 hit dog doesn’t really seem like a selling point to me, but who knows.
My bad. I was unclear in my phrasing. Debit cards would still work. They just won't necessarily require the PIN. Similar to restaurants that just swipe them.
 

Spelunker

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Almost all debit cards work without PIN these days, right?. Generally speaking, it's pretty dumb to be inputting your PIN into a POS anyway.

Either way, I go to lots of events/vendors that don't take cash. It's not strange anymore, and it certainly seems faster.
 

NortheasternPJ

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Almost all debit cards work without PIN these days, right?. Generally speaking, it's pretty dumb to be inputting your PIN into a POS anyway.

Either way, I go to lots of events/vendors that don't take cash. It's not strange anymore, and it certainly seems faster.
The US credit card system is still a mess:

Debit - PIN & Chip
Debit as Credit - Chip
Credit - Chip

All that security fails? Just have a broken chip 3 times and you can swipe it. Other parts of the world you're required to use a PIN always since if someone steals your card, they still dont have the PIN most likely.
 

Spelunker

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The US credit card system is still a mess:

Debit - PIN & Chip
Debit as Credit - Chip
Credit - Chip

All that security fails? Just have a broken chip 3 times and you can swipe it. Other parts of the world you're required to use a PIN always since if someone steals your card, they still dont have the PIN most likely.
One of the best ways to give out your PIN is to use it at a POS. Even with a debit card, use it as credit.