Smart Dispensing and Thirsty Fans- The Ideal Stadium Combo

While sports fans may attend their favorite team’s live events for support and camaraderie, there’s no denying the allure of stadium hot dogs and an ice cold beer. Sure, you can get those things at home but it’s just different when you’re surrounded by thousands of your closest friends, cheering on your favorite team.

While passion may look similar across sports, each set of fans have their own eating and drinking habits. So which sports fans drink the most? Read on to find out and to learn how Smart Dispensing can help your stadium improve your bottom line.

While the song implies that peanuts and Cracker Jacks are the go-to baseball stadium staple, 20 million hot dogs and 4.5 million sausages are consumed by Major League Baseball fans each season. And what pairs perfectly with hotdogs? Ice cold beer. Fans enjoy an average of three beers while cheering on their team, with Chicago White Sox fans drinking more than any other fanbase. According to a survey by NJ Online Gambling, the team’s fans consume an average of 4.2 drinks per game and spend $40 or more on drinks per game.

That’s a lot of beer. And a lot of opportunities to improve sales and reduce over-pouring. After working with an MLB park for over six years, we compiled a case study showcasing their beverage program and improvements since implementing Smart Dispensing. The program at the park has grown year over year with more than 200 connected taps driving increased speed of service, better visibility, and easier operations. In the 2021 season, over 2 million ounces flowed through Sestra’s connected taps. Faster service, shorter time between keg changes, and increased visibility drove an improved fan experience through shorter lines and perfect pours. As a result, the park saw positive ROI in 3 months, 25% volume growth, and 19% increase in yield. Sestra increased beverage revenue at the major league baseball park and revenue per keg by 27%. To learn more about our partnership with this major league park, download the entire case study HERE. While these stats are specific to one customer’s results, similar ROI is seen across sports venues – including hockey.

With Gretzky’s love of hotdogs being what it is (one Redditor calculated he ate 7,224 over the course of his career), it’s no surprise that hockey fans love hot dogs as well. So, how do their beer drinking habits compare to those of baseball fans? NHL fans drink around 3.5 beers per game and their drinking habits are similar whether they’re watching a game from home or live at the arena.

Mixing it up, football fans favor pizza over hot dogs with 37% of spectators claiming the savory pie as their favorite football food. Luckily, beer pairs well with all stadium offerings, as fans continually prove. While NFL fans trail hockey fans in beer consumption, they average more than 3 beers per game. The Cincinnati Bengals have the thirstiest fans, who claim to average 5.2 beers per game (including their tailgating beverages).

Let’s not forget MMA and UFC enthusiasts. Unlike the team sports mentioned above, MMA and UFC fighters are alone in the ring but far from alone in the stadium. Fights are typically attended by tens of thousands of fans, most with a beer in hand. Live spectators enjoy an average of 4 beers at MMA/UFC fights, more than any other sports fans.

While drink preferences and habits differ across sports, one thing is clear; sports fans love beer. With so much beer being poured and served, that’s a lot of opportunity for waste as well as missed potential sales. Having Sestra’s Smart Dispensing and ongoing support in your corner allows your stadium or arena to decrease waste and customer wait time while also increasing efficiency, tap control, and actionable analytics. Learn more by reading Beverage Technology at Stadiums and Arenas or contact us to learn how we can help improve your bottom line.