While we are a Blame It On Everyone But Ourselves society, there’s a new marketing program at Turner Field where I believe there is a direct correlation to something else.  Even though we have an obesity problem here in the U.S., I can’t blame people for taking advantage of a new All You Can Eat program for certain sections of the ballpark.  Depending on the seat and menu, the cost for a ticket ranges from $25 to $65.  When you think about what you spend at the ballpark for concessions, this is actually an unbelievably good deal.  The Braves aren’t the only team to do this and it’s only a matter of time before it is available in all but a few parks.

Of course this lends to overeating for certain people but for those who want a dog or two along with a few 3 drinks during the game, you come out way ahead financially.  What I’m getting at is, due to the always-has-been-ridiculous prices for concession food at any venue, people see a deal like this and tend to overserve themselves because, for once, they’re not getting boned by the concession companies.

My wife worked at a movie theater while in college and she said that they charged high concession fees because Hollywood charged them well over half of their gate receipts (might have been closer to 80%).  A trashbag’s equivalent of popcorn costs 25 cents to make at the time (mid-1990's).  This explains why, when I went to a movie last week, a ticket plus soda and popcorn cost me over $20.  It’s the reason I prefer to see a movie on DVD on my 57-inch high definition TV with surround sound and the ability to pause the movie whenever I want.  Again, nothing beats the theater experience for certain flicks, but the overall Assclown to Loud People to Normal People ratio, multiplied by the Legal Robbery At The Concession Stand (directly proportional to Hollywood demanding so much money to support the actor and directors’ coke habits), equals Me Watching Movies At Home.

Bottom Line to the story?  Concession stands make people fat and poorer.  It must be nice to base your business model on a captive audience that has no choice.  One thing I forgot to mention the other week when I was at the park was that bottled water ($4.50) now costs more than soda ($4.25).  I know it's a supply-and-demand thing but it just seems really odd to see a substance that is unaltered cost less than another product that uses that same base substance plus a lot of other unhealthy things thrown into it.