So when I come around this tweet:
| Here's my response:
Now, obviously I have gotten more RT's (and Favorites) to their not so many. |
Amory not only serves it all, but the quality also gets me. The hamburger I bought beats any fast-food burger and even several restaurants I've been to. I've been to Ridgeland three times for baseball (twice in a 3-day span in 2011, and once last year) and once for Football - selection is not wide, and the food is average, much like many others across the state. Oxford does okay, and at least can properly serve Nachos, but lets just say no one complains a whole lot.
Some interesting Concession Stands I have visited: Ripley Football serves Funnel Cakes. Shannon's is right up there near the top when it comes to it with its wide selection. Senatobia, New Albany, Center Hill, Lake Cormorant and such serve those BBQ Nachos - it seems about 25% of schools are selling that item now, especially around Desoto County (Lake Cormorant is the leader in that department). Clarksdale is unique in that it is the only school that I have been to that does not serve Coke OR Pepsi products (they serve 7-up, Dr. Pepper and some lesser known brands) Soccer Concession Stands typically do not serve a lot, mostly enough to get through the night as the game hardly has breaks itself to even come to get food without missing anything.
Now, most of this assessment comes from the fact I have never been to a school that is below the I-20 beltway in this state, being that Pearl is the furthest south school I have been to within the state of Mississippi (and is not too terrible with the food either). So this is not really a fair assessment of the state since I have been just in the north.
When I hit the delta schools (which because of region alignment I have not done more recently), I have seen Nachos served with a Velveeta Dip instead of good ol' Nacho Cheese. First, it does not taste well and it is because it is cheaper to make. Second, it is usually served with a little extra "toppings" such as the chopped up red tomato to which is what downgrades the Nacho Cheese.
Next is to those that do not open until nearly tipoff, kickoff, 1st pitch - like West Point for example I've always waited way too long to open (since on road games, teams usually arrive about 2-3 hours prior to the first game of the trip). It is usually not until 15-30 minutes if not right up when the game starts as to when it opens (in all sports). Why make people who want to buy your food wait? If the customer waits too long, you lose him, just like I've done a couple times because 95% of the time, I get to interested in the game. Don't make people wait! The number one rule in running ANY food business. When someone is hungry, they want food ASAP!
Outside of that, the usual cooked things need to be well-done (Hamburgers, Hot Dogs), and the drinks need to be cold - as in within very few degrees of freezing - before selling them.
Take a look at your schedule, if you see "Oxford" on it, expect me to be near your concession stand in the future. I'll let you know if this is the "Best Ballpark Gourmet anywhere" when I taste it and the service is good about it.