An Interview with a career Stadium Vendor

You see them all the time, all over the world. They walk in front of you at the most critical moment of the game and yell at the top of their lungs: “Beer here!” They are stadium vendors, folks who come to the games every day and get paid to sell you stuff to eat and drink.

I started vending hot dogs, pretzels, beer and soda at Shea Stadium in April 1988 and eventually worked at other sporting arenas like Madison Square Garden. Even to this day people are fascinated with my past experiences as a stadium vendor- it dominated every job interview I have ever been on as well as my interviews for Business School- so I figured that I would take the time out and interview a long time friend and stadium vendor. (Some names have been changed to protect the guilty.)

Steve and the Tank: We met at Shea Stadium Opening Day 1988 but I was smart enough to quit in 1994 after possibly 1000 games at multiple stadiums, what about you, how long have you been vending and how many sporting/entertainment events have you been to?

Vendor: Oh way too many, over 2000. How long have I been vending? Let’s do the math 1988-1993 about 70 games a year. 1994 about 100 games both Yankee and Shea. No vending in 1995 while on Wall Street. Then 1996-97 75 a year. Then 1998-99 I took some time off and was hoping around the world. Then 2000 75 games at Yankee. Then 2001-2006 about 140 a year both Shea and Yankee

Steve and the Tank: That sure is a lot of games! At what stadiums, just Shea and Yankee?

Vendor:  Only Yankee and Shea with a brief stint at Madison Square Garden.

Steve and the Tank:  Which is the best place to sell at? Shea? Yankee? MSG? Other?

Vendor:   Yankee has the most generous fans. Shea fans spend money but tipping is less then Yankee. MSG sucked when I worked there with you

Steve and the Tank: Yes it did suck. But we saw some amazing Knick games and our locker room was where they kept the rink for ranger games. Remember Martin Luther King day 1990 when Trent Tucker got a 3 point shot with 0.01 seconds on the clock to win an amazing victory over the Bulls? This leads me to the next question, did you start vending so you can see free games?

Vendor:   Yes I did in the beginning.

Steve and the Tank: What happened, is it all about the money?

Vendor:   Free games gets old after the first year. I come to work to work, just like you.

Steve and the Tank: How much does a vendor make on average selling each item?

Vendor:   No comment, but they pay us on commission, so the more you work the more you make.

Steve and the Tank: Why do the pay you on commission and pay the people behind the counter by the hour?

Vendor: It has always been like that. Vendors always got commission going back to the beginning o baseball and counter workers got hourly pay. I assume they pay us on commission since we are in the seats selling to the fans and can so easily just sit and watch the game if we were paid by the hour.

Steve and the Tank: What is the easiest product to sell? Beer? Hot dogs? Other?

Vendor:  Depends on the person some people find beer easy to sell others hot dogs. I prefer hot dogs.

Steve and the Tank: What is the most profitable product to sell?

Vendor: Depends how good the vendor is and the section of the stadium you are in.

Steve and the Tank: Can you give your friends free beer?

Vendor: Sometimes  they give me credit in the station. I don't want to pay for your free bee, we are accountable for everything we sell.

Steve and the Tank:  I once sold a beer to a 7 year old boy who was bringing it to his dad. The scene was funny, the dad actually sent his kid down to me to fetch him a beer. Do you card kids?

Vendor: I hate selling beer. Actually will not sell it anymore because I have to card everybody including 80 yr olds.

Steve and the Tank:  Do you sell beer to cute women who are underage?

Vendor: If I want to lose my job.

Steve and the Tank:   How have Aramark and other large scale vendors changed the vending business over the past 15 or so years?

Vendor: The prices are a lot higher. A lot has changed to much to list. No more draft beer, drip sodas. Vending is always changing. We now have ketchup with the hot dogs!

Steve and the Tank:  I remember Game 3 of the NLCS in 1988 when it was cold and raining and I just wanted to go home. I also remember some 100 degree day games selling hot dogs in the field level with the sun beating down on me and having to go into the ice cream freezer to cool off in-between innings. What was the hardest conditions (heat, cold, rain, snow, etc.) that you worked in?

Vendor: I remember one Mets opening day few years ago it was 31 degrees. It was to cold to do anything, I had to keep warm in the vendor room as much as I could between innings.

Steve and the Tank:  Did anyone ever try to rob you at the game?

Vendor: Never has happened at anytime. I don’t think anyone has ever been robbed.

Steve and the Tank:  I still remember the most beautiful woman I ever sold a hot dog to, her name was Tracy and it was August 1990 in the Upper Deck at a night game against the Pittsburg Pirates. Who was the least pleasant client you dealt with? Most pleasant?

Vendor: I deal with people in seconds don't have time to get to know them. Other vendors sit there and have conversations with fans. I am too busy try trying to make my money.

Steve and the Tank:  I remember I was hit in the head with a foul ball on the first pitch of the first game of a twilight double header. I also remember catching about 3 or 4 foul balls over the years. Did you ever catch a foul or home run ball? If so, which one and how many?

Vendor: Once caught a foul ball at Yankee during the game. The ball went down the hallway and I was standing there to pick it up. These days when I see a foul ball headed in my direction I tend to try to get as far away from the crazy people who are sacrificing their bodies for a worthless ball. More then a few vendors were knocked out from crazy people diving for balls. But I have caught plenty of balls during batting practice

Steve and the Tank:  What is the longest term vendor you are acquainted with? Shortest term?

Vendor: After Manny Gluck died last year he was at Yankee since 1955. Know the #1 guy is Mike McNamara he started at Yankee in 1960. Short term the vendor who started today.

Steve and the Tank:   What is the craziest story of a vendor getting fired?

Vendor:  The funniest story I know is concerning our mutual friend Bo (name changed). You know this guy is insane. The scene: Yankee vs Boston in I don't know let’s say 1996. Bo decides to take the day off and watch the game from the bleachers. Back then the bleachers still sold beer. He proceeds to get wasted and starts harassing Boston fans. It gets bad the fans complain he gets thrown out. Security doesn't know he is a vendor. He uses his ID to get back in and starts harassing the fans again. Security sees him thinking what the hell throw him out again. You would think OK he goes home but no he gets in again back to the same fans starts fighting them Security comes takes him out search find the ID take him to Joyce Pappa the boss he is fired right away.  

Steve and the Tank : What was the most memorable moment you witnessed?

Vendor:  Has to be when the Yanks won the World Series in 1996. I watched Charlie Hayes catch the ball from the left field seats and watched the whole celebration on the field.

Steve and the Tank: Do you get to meet the players?

Vendor:  No, but back in 1988 I met a few of the Mets..

Posted by Steve, in New York.

MLB | Interviews

Thursday, August 17, 2006 7:22:48 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Since the Mets placed Pedro on the 15-day DL, I am praying that Pedro gets better soon and tunes up before the playoffs.

Furthermore, Wednesday was also a sad day because it is the 58th observance of Babe Ruth's passing and it was ground-breaking day for the new Yankee Stadium. Don't get me wrong, I understand the revenue arguments with all the new luxury boxes, restaurants, parking, etc. However, from a fan perspective, the Boston Celtics were never the same after moving from Boston Garden and going into the Fleet Center, now Bank of America Center. (Granted, Bird, Parrish, DJ, McHale were retired or at the end of their careers but the Celtic Magic left with the old Boston Garden.) By the time that the Yankees are scheduled to move into the new digs in 2009, the heart and soul of the Yankees (Jorge, Bernie, Mariano, and Posada) will either be retired or on the decline. I hope the magic transfers across the street and I hope my superstition is wrong. Lastly, from a selfish standpoint, where are the bleachers going to be in the new stadium because I don't see it in the current design? I became a ticket plan holder since 2001 since I could not get 2000 Subway Series tickets. Where will I sit in 2009 and beyond?  Please keep checking this site as I search for answers and elusive closure.

MLB

Tuesday, August 15, 2006 11:07:45 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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As I entered the Stadium, I was asked to drink from my water my water bottles.  I had (non-alcoholic) apple cider in one and regular water in the other.  I drank from both, didn't collapse, and the security guard let me in.  (This precaution was in light of the recent terror alerts from liquids in London.)

A-Rod gets on with a walk.  Giambino singles to right field and A-Rod goes to third.  Posada strikes out on a nasty slider.

"It is high, it is far, it is gone!": Robinson Cano's three run home run landed about seven rows in front of me to my left in Bleachers Section 41.  Yankees 3 - Angels 1.

Bernie singles to center.

"Johnny Be Gone!": Johnny Damon homers to right.  Yankees 5 - Angels 1.

Jeter strikes out and the Yankees thankfully lead 5-1 at the end of 2.

-----
A-Rod doubles to right center in the bottom of the third with one out.  Everyone including me!  You see Steve, I am a big believer in positive thinking.  A-Rod is getting results after I mentioned doing the Tony Robbins "Fire Walk" to relieve the stress of playing in NY.

Giambino walks after Molina gets hit with a foul ball under his chin in between the mask and the chest protector.  Ouch!

Posada grounds out into an inning ending double play.  Darn it!  Yankees 5 - Angels 1 at the end of 3.

----
Wright struggled but thankfully got through five.  He is good for about 100 pitches and has "only" about 75 pitches.  Scott Proctor started to warm up in the bullpen.

A-Rod hits into a double play to end the fifth.  Though I credit A-Rod for his earlier double, Boston Bob continues to dig on A-Rod.

Wright comes out for the sixth.  A ball goes by A-Rod and scored as the 20th error of season.  I know, I know, Boston Bob.  I am stuck in the middle between positive thinking Steve and negative thinking Boston Bob.

Proctor comes in to relieve Wright.

Jorge makes a great throw to Jeter to get Vladimir Guerrero at second base to thankfully end the Angels threat in the sixth.

Melky Cabrera doubles with one out in the bottom of the seventh.  Johnny "Be Good" Damon advances Cabrera to third on a groundout to short.  Angels go to the pen to some guy I have never heard of.  Jeter strikes out to the seventh and some Red Sox fan in a pink Boston hat boos Jeter.  I am against breast cancer too but remember the situation -- you're in the Bleachers at Yankee Stadium with a pink Boston hat is asking for trouble.

Farnsworth comes in for the eighth.  A-Rod makes a great play and throw.  I stand up and cheer like crazy.  My fellow Bleachers Creatures think that I have lost it.  A-Rod doubles with one out in the bottom of the eighth.  Phillips walks but the Yankees don't score.  Yankees 5 - Angels 2.

Time for a Metallica's "Enter Sandman" as Mariano comes in to save the ninth and then we treated to the Chairman of the Board's  (Frank Sinatra, not Whitey Ford) "New York, New York" as the Yankees thankfully win!

Yankees 5 -"LA Angels of Anahiem of Orange County of Southern California of the United States of the Western Hempshire of the Planet Earth of the Solar System of the Known Universe" 2.

Posted by The Tank in New York

MLB

Sunday, August 13, 2006 7:46:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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The Mets lose 2-1 at the Nationals.  The Yankees lose to the dreaded "LA of Anahiem of Orange County of Southern California of the Western Hemisphere Angels".  Since the RS unfortunately beat Baltimore, they closed to within two games of the Yankees.  I don't comment on the Mets opponents because they buried the Braves and Phillies over the past couple of weekends.   

In the meantime, please check out our other postings.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

MLB

Friday, August 11, 2006 11:53:13 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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As great as the Mets have played at Shea this season, it was their first three game sweep over MMP and the NL West leading San Diego Padres.  

Speaking of sweeps, thank God for the KC Royals sweeping the Boston Red Sox.  Even though the RS had an emotional pre-game meeting, the Royals came through for me and themselves.  The next time I see someone from KC, e.g. ESPN's Jason Whitlock, Mr. Buck O'Neil, etc. drinks are on me.  (This is in keeping with my tradition for buying drinks for out-of-town friends whose teams beat my opponents.  For instance, as the Oakland As took three out of four against the RS at Fenway, I am going to buy my buddy San Diego Rich drinks the next time he is in the City or I am in San Diego as SD Rich is a huge As fan.)

The Yankees unfortunately lost 5-4 against the Chicago White Sox.  The Yankees still thankfully lead the RS by three games with two games in hand.

Go Yankees! / Go Mets! / Go Royals!

Post by The Tank in New York

MLB

Friday, August 11, 2006 12:00:48 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Wednesday night at Shea Stadium presented the best of the past and present.  It was great having "Metal Mike" Piazza (MMP) back in town.  He hit a couple of home runs but the Mets still won.  Kind of weird writing it but time moves on and so did MMP to San Diego.

As for the Yankees, Randy Johnson pitched an unbelievable no-hitter through six innings.  He then lost the no-no and the Yankees barely but thankfully held on 7-6.  Most importantly, the Red Sox lost to the Royals.  The Royals played the RS tough at Fenway and lost a couple of tough 1-0 games. 

The dream scenario for me is to see the Mets and Yankees face off in a Subway Series in October.  I couldn't get a ticket to the last one.  I tried every trick in the book short of knocking off my manager's boss, Director Steve, who got tickets from a vendor; I hated one of the vendor's consultants but Director Steve is a good guy and a huge baseball fan so I couldn't do that to him.  Plus, he is my manager's boss -- would have hurt my employment and career development.

As summer becomes fall, you'll hear more from The Tank.

Posted by The Tank in New York.

MLB

Thursday, August 10, 2006 1:28:34 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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On May 14 2006, David Sharp climbed to the summit of Mt. Everest, a superhuman feat. On top of the tallest mountain in the world at 29, 028’ (8,850 M) it must have been a thrill- the Himalayas are mesmerizing.

After taking in the summit and all its beauty, David started the long decent down to camp. Unfortunately he got hit with altitude sickness and on the way down at 28,500’ (8, 686 M) and was left behind for dead by his team (who officially declared him dead). Sharp then crawled under a rock overhang next to a dead Indian climber for shelter. Other teams were attempting to summit that day and forty other climbers near the summit walked right past him and let him die. Some passed him twice, once on the way up to the summit and once on the way down.

Double-amputee climber Mark Inglis made it up and down safely and when interviewed by the media told of Sharp’s story. At the exact same time another climber was left for dead by his team, Australian climber Lincoln Hall. Luckily Hall was found alive by some other climbers who selflessly gave up their own summit attempt and stayed with him until a party of 12 sherpas came to carry him down. (Hall did made it and is now ok.)

Hall lived and Sharp died. Hall was rescued by kind climbers and Sharp was passed by selfish climbers. The morality of Everest is under attack.

I say to all of those who judge the climbers who walked past Sharp on the mountain that day: you can only judge if you have been at altitude on a climb. I have been to Everest and lived and worked with the Sherpa for a month, they are the kindest and warmest people you can ever meet. If Sharp looked like he was alive and a rescue was possible, they would have done it. Several people did stop and help, two climbers even gave him some of their own oxygen, but they were confused and thought he was with another team, not stranded. Sharp was not responding clearly enough for them to think otherwise. Later on Sharp was laying down next to the dead Indian climber and was presumed dead. There is much confusion at altitude where the oxygen is thin. Hall was not in as bad of shape and was more responsive, was in a less confusing situation and made it.

Sir. Edmund Hillary and Jon Krakauer (of Into Thin Air fame) have loudly complained that tragedies like this are the result of the commercialization of Everest. This is not the commercialization of Everest, this is the popularity of Everest; people want to do Everest and it gets crowded. Statistically more people die on Everest in the 1960s when nobody was on the mountain than they do today when it is crowded. David Sharp most likely would have walked past himself. David Sharp would also most likely also have stopped to help Lincoln Hall.

Most professional climbers disagree with Hillary and Krakauer’s  criticism. But some "real" climbers now want to keep the "paying" climbers off the mountain. Let me tell you, every "paying" climber I met was an amazing person who was in amazing shape with lots of experience. Anyone who trains, has some experience, and is willing to pay for an expedition should be allowed on the mountain. They just have to understand the risks that they could end up like David Sharp. I am sure that David Sharp knew and understood those risks. I don’t think we should condemn the people on the mountain that day.

Lastly, I have climbed several mountains, been at high altitude, have even been to Everest (not to the top) and some of my friends have asked me: “What if I was on a summit push that day, what would I do?” 

I would have given some spare oxygen to Sharp if I though he was alive (and if I had some spare oxygen) and moved on. I walked past a climber in very bad shape at about 14,000 feet on Mt. Rainer. I stopped and said "Are you all right dude?" He said "No, but I will be ok, I’ll be going down with my guide when he returns from the summit." At that point lacking any emergency equipment and oxygen myself, not to mention the severe pain I was in, I moved on. (He did make it down, I checked.)

Could this guy have been another David Sharp? The fact of the matter is this: people on the mountain have to make life or death decisions and sometimes the correct decision is to move on. The world may not want to hear that but that is the simple truth.

Posted by Steve, in New York.

Editors Note: Read what Garry Porter has to say about this in our interview here.

Mountain Climbing

Wednesday, August 09, 2006 7:11:43 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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This is the blog home of Steve and the Tank! We are two passionate sports fans who deliver no-nonsense analysis of professional and amateur sports.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006 8:32:11 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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