New Letter to the Editor on TCF Stadium!
Dear Editor,
My name is Benjamin Fugate. So the Vikings are ready to play in TCF Bank Stadium on Monday Night Football vs. the Chicago Bears. The big question is whether or not TCF Stadium and the U will allow alcohol sales during the game. But this is not even half the story when it comes to vending at TCF Stadium.
During the past Gophers football season, I was a “hawker” for Aramark. I went up and down the aisles to sell bottled beverages, snacks, hot dogs, and hot cocoa to those who are in the seats. I worked in all seven home games and it was very hard to sell product and gain respect among the fans. This is a result of several policies set forth by the U of M Athletic Department, and U of M Contract Administration.
First, hawkers for Aramark had to remove the caps of the bottles of pop and water, no exceptions. This slowed down the sale of the product and made the U of M look irrational. I had to waste time explaining the policy to people who had no plans on throwing the bottles towards the field. I think it would have been better for the PA to make several game announcements about the policy. The U of M should have allowed vendors to provide caps to families with young children.
Secondly, the vendors were mistreated when it came to the ever changing policy on selling in the concourse at halftime. In some of the games, vendors were able to sell freely in the concourse during halftime. However, in other games, the vendors were forced to sell in the seats at halftime because of the rogue actions of a few vendors. Normally these disobedient vendors were ones who sold mini donuts in the middle of the concourse. This impeded traffic, according to the U of M. As a result, This policy ruined halftime sales for vendors. The policy forced vendors into the seats where fans are more interested in the marching bands than refreshments.
Thirdly, hawkers were told at job orientation to not take tips. During the hawker meetings just before games, this policy was NEVER mentioned. However, when I spoke with Aramark supervisors and with U of M representatives, I was told that vendors are not permitted to take tips. Nevertheless, all other vendors took tips with regularity, but did not necessarily ask for them. Vendors even published their success on tips in front of room managers. Because of my ethics, this policy also wasted my time as I had to turn down hundreds of dollars in tips. When explaining the policy, I embarrassed the U of M and myself. I believe that sales were also lost because of this policy and my efforts to abide by it.
These policies made vending at TCF Stadium less than desirable. Yet, I made pretty good money at the job, so I stuck with it. It also gave me a chance to see how a business should not be run. But there are solutions. First, allow families with young children to keep the pop bottle caps. Second, let sales be allowed along the edge of the concourse during halftime. Third, fire noncompliant vendors immediately after their disobedience to the concourse policy is observed. Fourth, vendors should be allowed to take tips when they are offered by the customer, but be punished for asking for tips. This offseason is a perfect time to change these policies completely and for the better. Both the U and their vendors will benefit.
Contract Administrator Leslie Bowman and Athletic Director Joel Maturi need to change these policies this offseason or be fired by the U of M for their incompetence. There are many other issues with the U of M and with Aramark but space does not allow for their explanation. I encourage all donors to the U of M’s athletic program to suspend giving until these policies are changed .
If you thought that the only problem at TCF Stadium was the absence of alcohol sales, now you know better. The U of M may help people like me make some extra money but they could help themselves and all their vendors with these policy changes. Next time you watch a game at TCF Stadium, think about these issues.
If you would like to know more, please go to my blog at http://www.fugate2020.blogspot.com
My name is Benjamin Fugate. So the Vikings are ready to play in TCF Bank Stadium on Monday Night Football vs. the Chicago Bears. The big question is whether or not TCF Stadium and the U will allow alcohol sales during the game. But this is not even half the story when it comes to vending at TCF Stadium.
During the past Gophers football season, I was a “hawker” for Aramark. I went up and down the aisles to sell bottled beverages, snacks, hot dogs, and hot cocoa to those who are in the seats. I worked in all seven home games and it was very hard to sell product and gain respect among the fans. This is a result of several policies set forth by the U of M Athletic Department, and U of M Contract Administration.
First, hawkers for Aramark had to remove the caps of the bottles of pop and water, no exceptions. This slowed down the sale of the product and made the U of M look irrational. I had to waste time explaining the policy to people who had no plans on throwing the bottles towards the field. I think it would have been better for the PA to make several game announcements about the policy. The U of M should have allowed vendors to provide caps to families with young children.
Secondly, the vendors were mistreated when it came to the ever changing policy on selling in the concourse at halftime. In some of the games, vendors were able to sell freely in the concourse during halftime. However, in other games, the vendors were forced to sell in the seats at halftime because of the rogue actions of a few vendors. Normally these disobedient vendors were ones who sold mini donuts in the middle of the concourse. This impeded traffic, according to the U of M. As a result, This policy ruined halftime sales for vendors. The policy forced vendors into the seats where fans are more interested in the marching bands than refreshments.
Thirdly, hawkers were told at job orientation to not take tips. During the hawker meetings just before games, this policy was NEVER mentioned. However, when I spoke with Aramark supervisors and with U of M representatives, I was told that vendors are not permitted to take tips. Nevertheless, all other vendors took tips with regularity, but did not necessarily ask for them. Vendors even published their success on tips in front of room managers. Because of my ethics, this policy also wasted my time as I had to turn down hundreds of dollars in tips. When explaining the policy, I embarrassed the U of M and myself. I believe that sales were also lost because of this policy and my efforts to abide by it.
These policies made vending at TCF Stadium less than desirable. Yet, I made pretty good money at the job, so I stuck with it. It also gave me a chance to see how a business should not be run. But there are solutions. First, allow families with young children to keep the pop bottle caps. Second, let sales be allowed along the edge of the concourse during halftime. Third, fire noncompliant vendors immediately after their disobedience to the concourse policy is observed. Fourth, vendors should be allowed to take tips when they are offered by the customer, but be punished for asking for tips. This offseason is a perfect time to change these policies completely and for the better. Both the U and their vendors will benefit.
Contract Administrator Leslie Bowman and Athletic Director Joel Maturi need to change these policies this offseason or be fired by the U of M for their incompetence. There are many other issues with the U of M and with Aramark but space does not allow for their explanation. I encourage all donors to the U of M’s athletic program to suspend giving until these policies are changed .
If you thought that the only problem at TCF Stadium was the absence of alcohol sales, now you know better. The U of M may help people like me make some extra money but they could help themselves and all their vendors with these policy changes. Next time you watch a game at TCF Stadium, think about these issues.
If you would like to know more, please go to my blog at http://www.fugate2020.blogspot.com
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