Why stadium food is so expensive

Description Angle down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Stadium food and drinks often cost more than comparable items outside the venue. Exclusive concession contracts, private stadium operations, and restrictions on outside food have created a captive market that allows teams and vendors to charge fans more, even though many stadiums were built with taxpayer dollars. Today, fans at many stadiums are a captive audience, with limited or no ability to bring outside food, prompting lawmakers to propose legislation to cap concession prices at a fixed percentage above local street prices at publicly funded venues. But legal questions surrounding privately operated stadiums and the role of public subsidies have made it difficult to regulate concession prices. Stadium food and drinks often cost more than comparable items outside the venue. Exclusive concession contracts, private stadium operations, and restrictions on outside food have created a captive market that allows teams and vendors to charge fans more, even though many stadiums were built with taxpayer dollars. Today, fans at many stadiums are a captive audience, with limited or no ability to bring outside food, prompting lawmakers to propose legislation to cap concession prices at a fixed percentage above local street prices at publicly funded venues. But legal questions surrounding privately operated stadiums and the role of public subsidies have made it difficult to regulate concession prices. Show more