Gouged for grub

Victoria Sun

Friday, April 28, 2000 | 9:52 a.m.

A sampling of prices from the Pacific Coast League:

Las Vegas Stars: Parking: $3; box seats: $8; general admission: $5; hot dogs: $2.50-$4; soft drink: $2-$3.50; nachos: $4; beer: $3.75-$4.25

Albuquerque Dukes: Parking: $1; box seats: $6; general admission: $2-$4; hot dogs: $1.50; soft drink: $1.25; nachos: $2.50; beer: $3 and $4

New Orleans Zephyrs: Parking: $3; box seats: $7-$9; general admission: $5; hot dogs: $3; soft drinks: $2; nachos: $3; beer: $2.50 to $5

Salt Lake Buzz: Parking: $4; box seats: $7; general admission: $3-$5; hot dogs: $1.50-$3.50; soft drink: $1.50; nachos: $3; beer: $3.50

Tucson Sidewinders: Parking: free; box seats: $8; general admission: $3.50-$4.50; hot dogs: $1.75-$3.25; nachos: $4.25; beer: $3-$4

In "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," the popular tune sung at ballparks all over the country during the seventh-inning stretch, munching on peanuts and Cracker Jack is just as important as rooting for the home team.

Devouring delicious goodies from hot dogs to popcorn to nachos while enjoying a baseball game has long been considered a ritual of sorts that goes like this: Go to the game, fill up on snacks.

But some fans who attend Las Vegas Stars games at Cashman Field say they have begun to notice a trend -- a full stomach equals an empty wallet.

"You have to mortgage your house to drink a beer," griped Larry Arave as he left the beer stand balancing a tall cold one and some chicken fingers with fries he purchased a few feet down. "Bring your gold card."

Even so, the prices haven't stopped Arave from coming to the games.

He says he has been watching the Stars in person for 13 years. On this night he shelled out $4.25 for his draft beer and $4.50 for the chicken.

"They've always been high," he remarked of the prices.

Compared to other minor league stadiums in the Pacific Coast League, however, prices at Cashman Field are within reason. There are a couple of items priced higher here than at other parks and a few items at or below the other prices.

Aramark Corporation has been the food service provider at Cashman Field for 17 years.

Nick Beno, director of operations for Aramark, explained that there are a few new items for sale this year which may have led people to think that there are price increases.

The additions are the foot-long hot dog that sells for $4 (a corn dog is $2.50 and a jumbo hot dog is $3) and the Stars' take-home souvenir plastic soda cup for $3.50.

"People come in and see those items sometimes and assume we raised the prices when what we did was bring them a totally different product," Beno said.

So who decides when to hike the prices?

Beno and general manager Rodney Myers sit down before each season and survey the prices of all the food service providers for the other PCL teams, then do a comparison to see how competitive they are. Then they obtain a list from their main suppliers of any price increases they will hand down to Aramark. Finally, they make a list of prices for next season that will help them remain profitable based on those factors.

Beno and Myers' list of prices for each season must be approved by the Stars and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority before they are implemented.

Last season the price went up for several items including chicken fingers and nachos, but Beno said it was the first time in three years that any increases were made. The chicken fingers went from $3.75 to $4.50 and the nachos went from $3.75 to $4.00.

"Our suppliers' costs increased so they increased the cost to us for the chicken fingers. So we had to raise the price," Beno said. "With the nachos, we added salsa and jalapenos, which is why they went up.

"We are not trying to rip anyone off, but we have to continue to make a profit. So if we need to increase prices, we try to make it as minimal as possible -- for example, a quarter."

Whatever the reason for the prices, some like Kelly and Al Schwarz of Summerlin agreed with Arave.

"The ticket prices are great," Kelly Schwarz said. "But the (cost of) food is outrageous, especially for a minor league game.

"Four dollars for nachos is ridiculous."

It also depends on how you look at it.

Ed Landolf fed his wife, daughter and two grandchildren for $26. He would much rather pay those prices than the ones at the local amusement parks.

"I think they're reasonable," Landolf said. "It's not that I come here that often, but I can live with the prices.

"Compared to the MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park and the one at Circus Circus, this is nothing."

Las Vegas resident Mike Herman agreed.

"I think it's about the same here as any other ballpark and it's not that much different from the Thomas & Mack Center," he said. "It's worth it.

"I come out for my kid. It's a fun time."

But there is one solution to paying high prices for junk food: Arrive at the game full.