No Seat Vendors Last Night

by section229beer on May 14, 2009 12:32 AM CDT

Thank you all patrons for your patience last night.

All of the seat vendors were sent home around 5:30 in anticipation of severe weather and a Thursday double header. Consequently, lines were very long if you wanted a drink, peanuts, or a dog.

The vendors that were in the stadium were told that their was an 80% chance that the game would be called, and bad weather would be coming in around 6:30. Actually playing the game came as a huge surprise to most of the employees. We busted hard to get through the lines as quickly as we could.

There have been a lot of patron complaints in the last 2 years about the large number of seat vendors. To correct this, Levy restaurants (the concession company) has not hired any new vendors in that time and occasionally sends veteran vendors home without pay. They've also started a new system where some senior vendors get wristbands to sell in the 100 level sections and the rest are confined to the 200 levels or the upperdeck.

The vendors that worked last night had a profitable night. Ticket holders had fewer sightline obstructions, but endured long lines. Seat vendors, some who scrape by and depend on this for a living, were all sent home without pay. The indecision by Cubs on whether to start the game or not made for a very weird night.

Thank you, again, for all your patience.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Avoid the lines

Bring your own food and drink (non alcholic ). Sorry no beer for you.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 14, 2009 1:09 AM CDT reply actions

Food they're ok with

but they wouldn’t let me in with an unopened can of coke or an unopened bottle of water.

"One time I went to a social gathering, I brought a bottle of Tanqueray and a shotgun and showed those motherf&#@ers the best time they ever had!"- Kenny Powers (Eastbound and Down)

"Why give 100% when 35 can still get you paid and laid."- Kenny Powers

by gridiron_assassin on May 14, 2009 1:30 AM CDT up reply actions

You are can bring in water or soda

So long as they are in opened PLASTIC ( or in the case of juice paper) bottle/containers. I have no idea who stopped you from bringing in water. I bring in two or three bottles per game.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 14, 2009 2:08 AM CDT up reply actions

They have to be opened?

I thought the whole point of them being unopened is so that you couldn’t smuggle some other form of beverage in? (ie; Vodka)

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on May 14, 2009 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Unopened is correct.

I think Jessica mistyped.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 14, 2009 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Oops yes

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 14, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Yea I don't know because it's happened on three separate occassions...

They’ve never once let me in with a bottle of water, either open or closed. I always end up just giving it to whoever is at the gate, that’s probably just their way of getting a free drink lol

"One time I went to a social gathering, I brought a bottle of Tanqueray and a shotgun and showed those motherf&#@ers the best time they ever had!"- Kenny Powers (Eastbound and Down)

"Why give 100% when 35 can still get you paid and laid."- Kenny Powers

by gridiron_assassin on May 15, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions

They must have something against you

I have never had a problem and I bring in 2-4 bottles of water/soda per game. They were giving out some stupid
new soda this year as a promotion from one of the major companies but it was in a METAL can and they collected
HUNDREDS of them at the entrances. I am sure the staff enjoyed those.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 15, 2009 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Haha the same thing happened with Sprite giving out some kind of new drink in a can that they had to take from everyone at the gates. I guess I’m gonna have to call you in to testify for me next time they try and take my drinks :)

"One time I went to a social gathering, I brought a bottle of Tanqueray and a shotgun and showed those motherf&#@ers the best time they ever had!"- Kenny Powers (Eastbound and Down)

"Why give 100% when 35 can still get you paid and laid."- Kenny Powers

by gridiron_assassin on May 15, 2009 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Interesting stuff, thanks for sharing.

by kanderber on May 14, 2009 7:21 AM CDT reply actions

We heard the same thing...

… from some food service people that our group knows. During the game a couple of vendors were spotted selling cotton candy & kettle corn.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 14, 2009 7:38 AM CDT reply actions

The cotton candy etc. vendors are not operated by Levy.

Come visit me inside Wrigley along the Addison side mezzanine fence straight up from 1st base.

by section229beer on May 14, 2009 11:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Random - but i guess it would fit here...

Obviously there is always talk of updating Wrigley – and when i join the conversation i always say that i think if they updated or rebuilt some of the consession stands it would make the stadium appeal greater and more modern.

As a vendor would you agree or disagree with that?

"I love this world. I hope hell is as much fun!"

by HIGGY on May 14, 2009 7:57 AM CDT reply actions

I haven't bought one thing in Wrigley since 1979

I always eat before the game, bring stuff in and drink lots of water ..

The Cubs have gotten enough out of me for the past 4 decades ..

Last time was an Old Style – I think – with some new friends in the bleacher and then a few more afterwards at Ray’s. .. I went home under my own power.

They were trying to hook me up with a girl who I think would have stayed ugly even if I’d fallen down drunk.

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on May 14, 2009 8:57 AM CDT reply actions

+1, best ugly line of the day

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on May 14, 2009 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions

Wow

That is one heck of a record, I mean 1979? Sheesh. Good for you, but please don’t tell me you bring weird food items in to eat – like kipper snacks and crackers.

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on May 14, 2009 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions

"The Cubs have gotten enough out of me for the past 4 decades .."

what a way to look at it. I assume you’ve gotten enough out of them too or you wouldn’t keep coming back.

by Orval Overall on May 14, 2009 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

hey, the Cubs are our drug .. our groove .. our intensity

there comes a time when you look at the sheet and realize what the kid said to Jimmy Fallon in Fever Pitch was right .. and then realize that being a fan does cost you. Nothing wrong with that ..

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on May 15, 2009 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Thank you for your comment, cubnational.

Obviously, I wasn’t talking to you.

Come visit me inside Wrigley along the Addison side mezzanine fence straight up from 1st base.

by section229beer on May 14, 2009 11:53 PM CDT up reply actions

obviously. Nice to not have heard back from you.

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on May 15, 2009 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey If you live in TN

Does that mean that you have to be on vacation to see a Cubs game? I assumed you were a season ticket holder who had held out over all the years and resisted, even when naturally compelled, to make a purchase at Wrigley (eg; Thirst / bottle of water or Rain/Poncho). If not then you record since 1979 is tainted.

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on May 15, 2009 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions

yeah, unfortunately .. and that don't happen much

been trapped here by the will of God since 1986. We won’t go there to get into that ..

I only WISH I was a season ticket holder .. and I wouldn’t be here. Believe you me.

I went to my first Cubs game at the age of 10 in 1970 when I lived back home in Chicago. My last game and only one in the bleachers was that game in 1979 I mentioned and also in the Dave Kingman thread on the BCB 100 Greatest Cubs entry. I joined the Navy and followed the Cubs from San Diego when in the 7th Fleet and to Philadelphia when I was with the Sixth Fleet. After getting out in 1983, I went fairly regularly to see the Cubs until 1985. Then I got marooned in TN in 1986 and I didn’t see a game again in Wrigley until 1990, my first night game. I’ve seen them off and on since back at the Friendly Confines, but I swear on Bill Veeck’s ivy covered wooden leg, I’ve never bought anything since.

7-11 is always so handy .. So are the vendors outside ..

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on May 15, 2009 9:53 PM CDT up reply actions