What's Easier than Picking on the Band? ISU Concessions!!!

**isucy86** · 09-03-2012, 09:43 AM

There has to be a better way to operate concessions. I know that some people love choice at games- they want their slushy, pizza, steamed nuts, etc.

However, I just wanted a couple pops. Tulsa scores with about 15 seconds left in quarter 1, I don't get back to my seat until 9:30 seconds left on the second quarter clock. I missed one ISU scoring drive and almost two.

Jamie- put some logistics students on this- there has to be a better way!! I don't know if it is how the concession booths are set-up, if there isn't enough staff- but no way should it take over 15 minutes to get a drink.

**CycloneErik** · 09-03-2012, 09:44 AM

Amen. I've never seen something so simple continue to be so complicated. Just push the food out. We're not really serving complicated dishes here, so the use of volunteers shouldn't be slowing anyone down.

**chuckd4735** · 09-03-2012, 09:46 AM

AND GET SOME ******* CREDIT CARD READERS! I saw multiple people get up there, order, and then realize they didn't accept credit.

**CycloneErik** · 09-03-2012, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by chuckd4735

AND GET SOME ******* CREDIT CARD READERS! I saw multiple people get up there, order, and then realize they didn't accept credit.

Since refilling my pop took so long, I figured that refilling popcorn later would be a nightmare. So I ordered a box of Hot Tamales, even though that's way too pricey for those. The guy didn't know what that meant until I pointed to the box and said "the red ones." It might not hurt to know what you're selling. This ain't rocket science here.

**ISUAlum2002** · 09-03-2012, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by chuckd4735

AND GET SOME ******* CREDIT CARD READERS! I saw multiple people get up there, order, and then realize they didn't accept credit.

Wow....they can't process credit at the concessions? That's insane. Simply inexcusable for the type of profit margin they are making on those $4 20 ounce pops, $6 hot dogs, $8 nachos, etc. etc. (disclaimer: I don't know the actual prices as I haven't bought anything there in years, but I know the prices are ludicrous). It would speed the sales process up considerably to just swipe the card through real quick, and most transactions wouldn't require a signature.

**Cyvilian** · 09-03-2012, 09:52 AM

And where can you get Clone Cones? Never did find any on Saturday. Do they only have one ice cream machine in that stadium?

**SCarolinaCy** · 09-03-2012, 09:54 AM

More About Iowa State Athletics Concessions - Learfield Levy Restaurants

In 2010, Iowa State Athletics partnered with Learfield Levy Foodservice, a joint venture between Levy Restaurants and Learfield Sports, to bring a delicious new menu to Cyclone fans during all home athletic events. Chicago-based Levy Restaurants is a premiere food service company that offers "fan-tastic" food experiences at over 100 locations across the country (the majority of which are professional sporting arenas and stadiums). Dallas-based Learfield Sports is a multimedia rights holder for over 50 colleges and universities across the country. Learfield Sports is proud to manage the multimedia rights for Iowa State Athletics. The joint venture between Levy and Learfield has been created to bring Cyclone fans an improved food and beverage experience while they cheer on their Cyclones!

Don't know if this is up to date.....Many concessions are awarded to charities to operate and profit.

**cyhawkdmb** · 09-03-2012, 09:55 AM

We must be a fat fan base... I rarely go to the concession stand during games. I did this game because I wanted a suviouner cup.. Left with like 2 min left in second quarter trying to beat the halftime rush. Made it back to see the last couple plays of the half... So no complaints here... Except for fans that stand during tv timeouts for the fight song then sit down before the next play... But that's for another day.

**Rabbuk** · 09-03-2012, 09:57 AM

I always chuckle at Iowans complaints about concessions as a Chicagoan. I feel spoiled by how cheap and fast the concessions are in comparison haha.

**stevefrench** · 09-03-2012, 10:00 AM

they need to have clone cones for the first few games when its still balls hot.

**06_CY** · 09-03-2012, 10:04 AM

Left to refill my soda when halftime started; two minutes later I was back in my seat.

**MLawrence** · 09-03-2012, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by vanillathrilla

Left to refill my soda when halftime started; two minutes later I was back in my seat.

Probably had about 6 refills but it defiantly helps to have your girlfriend/significant other there to keep getting refills. It also helps when we were sitting in the last row of the first deck.

**ianoconnor** · 09-03-2012, 10:14 AM

They don't take credit? I could have sworn I used my card to buy concessions last year...

**CycloneRulzzz** · 09-03-2012, 10:14 AM

My beef is the refill items. I noticed on one side of the stadium there was a line that said refill only. They need that on both sides. As far as I know Clone Cones are a Hilton only item. I got a refill cup got coke when I purchased it and then asked for Coke again when I refilled and they gave me diet coke. There is NO worst taste beverage wise than Diet pop.

**CyFan61** · 09-03-2012, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by SCarolinaCy

More About Iowa State Athletics Concessions - Learfield Levy Restaurants

In 2010, Iowa State Athletics partnered with Learfield Levy Foodservice, a joint venture between Levy Restaurants and Learfield Sports, to bring a delicious new menu to Cyclone fans during all home athletic events. Chicago-based Levy Restaurants is a premiere food service company that offers "fan-tastic" food experiences at over 100 locations across the country (the majority of which are professional sporting arenas and stadiums). Dallas-based Learfield Sports is a multimedia rights holder for over 50 colleges and universities across the country. Learfield Sports is proud to manage the multimedia rights for Iowa State Athletics. The joint venture between Levy and Learfield has been created to bring Cyclone fans an improved food and beverage experience while they cheer on their Cyclones!

Don't know if this is up to date.....Many concessions are awarded to charities to operate and profit.

This is accurate in that the concessions are run through Levy Restaurants. However, the majority of the people who work the concessions are volunteers from non-profit organizations. Levy gives a percentage of the income to the non-profit in exchange for their labor at the game. These organizations (and their workers) may be different every game.

Because of this (and the lack of credit card readers, which is completely inexcusable) the lines take forever, because the workers are barely trained and typically have no idea what's going on. They don't know what the items are called, how much they cost, or the overall best way to do things.

This is a pretty typical way to handle staffing for an event that only happens 6 or 7 times a year, but it's a big reason why we all have to wait so long.