Sam Adams Will Be Pleased

In the early days of the San Diego Padres franchise, fans could bring their own beverages to the games as long as they brought them in a plastic container. My pal, "The Moff", and I being world class "oilers" in those days would sometimes take gallon milk containers of what we called Yellow Fevers to our freebie radio station seats to help enhance our experience at the old ballyard. Yellow Fevers were a delightfully refreshing blend of lemonade and cheap vodka. (Easy on the lemonade.)
Padre teams of the mid to late 70's required all the experience enhancing a fan could muster. In fact, by the second inning Moff and I couldn't be counted on to tell you what city we were in let alone inform you of the score or what uniforms the Padres were wearing.

We did, however, have the men's room on our radar.

As all things must, this "bring your own medicine" policy was discontinued in San Diego sometime in 1984. The Padres went to the World Series that year; so the fans weren't too pissed-off about watching them while maintaining a degree of sobriety. Beer and wine were available at games and the cost was only mildly obscene.

Now, under the guise of needing the dough to pay the outrageous salaries commanded by today's players, owners in almost every market have jacked-up the price of beer. This trend also coincided with the new found tendency of people to frown on abusive drinking. Luckily I've retired from alcohol abuse and now simply hit myself repeatedly over the head with a bottle when I feel the need. (Which, by the way, is often.)

In a story that actually made the front page of the San Diego Union-Tribune today, I see that the bastards are at it again.

The Padres have announced that they are increasing the prices for all beers sold at Petco Park this year. The new range will be from $6.50 for domestic beer to $9.00 for premium brands. In other words it will require a fan to have the purse of Bill Gates or Paul McCartney to get tanked at a baseball game. (Not that the good taste committee would allow that.)

A bit of research into the economics of the situation reveals that a keg of Bud Light costs $76. The keg contains 1,984 ounces of suds which produces about 99 20-ounce cups . The Padres charge $8.50 for a 20-ounce Bud Light, meaning a single keg yields around $842 in sales. Not a bad margin of PURE PROFIT for the friars.

What would brewer/patriot Samuel Adams think??
I'm thinking Sam would want you to buy one of his brews. That'll be $9 please.



What will Homer Simpson think? I'm fairly sure that Homer will join me in staying home to watch the games on TV.

Who has money for ballpark beer after they've paid to park their car?
Did you hear? That's going up too!