Just as well that sport offers a feast.
Our sporting venues don’t.
In being fortunate enough to work in the sport space – and be a rabid fan – I’ve had my share of stadium food. Not the fancy stuff in the moneyed suites, but the nosh served to the ordinary Joe.
Boerie rolls. Pregos. Hot chips. Doughnuts. All the stuff your mum warned you about.
In 30-plus years of watching live sport, chiefly rugby, boxing and cricket, I cannot recall an experience that blended good, wholesome food with solid service, a minimum of queuing and a fair price.
The stadium fast-food experience is a mess, an oxymoron if there ever was one.
I mention this because many of our sports are facing an existential crisis. The economy is bruising, money is tight and fans are staying away. Seldom is a venue full to bursting.
Teams and federations are at a loss about what to do. Marketing initiatives are dreamed up. Activations are greenlit. Fun and fire shooters are introduced.
Nothing wrong with any of this.So why settle for B-grade catering which only detracts from the experience?
It’s a maddening fact of local sport where fans are forced to accept whatever food is offered, with little effort to compel them to come back again.
No-one expects prawn sandwiches or strawberries and cream, but better variety, healthier options and even a reasonable approach to customer service could go a long way towards satisfying fans who spend many hours supporting their teams.
I’ll be on my way – braai duty calls at my daughter’s school’s hockey festival.
Medium-rare, I promise.