Behind the Bricks: How Indy 500 Concessions Run

[@bfoor24]

The food was really good all weekend. I loved hanging out in Pagoda Plaza eating a few hot dogs with my little boy on Saturday from the grab n go. Just sitting at a picnic table with the Pagoda in front of us was amazing. On race day, eating more hot dogs with the race going on was just as amazing

[@colinmcsharar5039]

My college internship was in Concessions at the IMS back in the summer of 2010

[@bennyfactor]

We usually bring our own food for the 500, but during the eclipse event we went to go get some food from the concession buildings under tower terrace. Their power (or internet connection?) had gone out so they couldn't run their cash register, but they very kindly gave us a couple hotdogs for free! They were pretty good hotdogs for not being a named special brand like Nathan's or Hebrew National or Ball Park or whatever. Thanks for always looking out for the fans, Mr Boles

[@jeanhafley7903]

😊 yes I did see people I knew on the video. Pretty cool idea. Thanks for sharing. Love you

[@Earthshaker513]

Kudos to the dude with the water bottle mugging for the camera...

[@jimnasium452]

Don't sleep on the IMS pork chop on a stick!

[@chipstetson974]

As someone who's attended over 20 500's, concessions is a joke. Seems it's all contracted out and food/drinks etc are gone by the time the first lap is over.

[@GregoryGaskill-o5v]

Attended this years 500 and the concessions ran out of food before the race was over. Not acceptable. And, there were no other food vendors inside the fence. Pretty much a captive audience.

[@dawsondavis628]

There was a storm delay.. obviously more people are going to buy stuff if they are at the stands for several hours longer.. what do you want ims to do? Control the weather?

[@GregoryGaskill-o5v]

@@dawsondavis628. Weather didn’t change the number of people attending the race. I stand by my comment. Also, I just attended a NASCAR race in Nashville that had a rather significant weather delay. The numerous non-track employed vendors as well as the track concessionaires kept selling food through the rain delay, the race and afterward. It can be done with proper planning.

[@sdsmt99]

@@GregoryGaskill-o5v lighten up Francis People bring their own food, have for decades, F1 had the same problem on their first visits because the international F1 fan didn't understand that was the IMS tradition. By the time this year's race started we should have already been home, we had already ate the lunches we brought, we cancelled steak house reservations and at concessions for dinner.

[@Diecastreviews]

Cool now start taking cash again

[@HazelCotton]

Hey, Doug, That Mt. dew is bad for your teeth, too much sugar. I usually bring my own food, stuff I can eat.

[@fastbike175]

hey mind your own business let people do them. Doug is great without your help.

[@jimnasium452]

Yeah, me too! But I also bring Dr. Pepper.

[@jimnasium452]

I've never considered concession food sustenance. More an extravagance, a treat. A way to imbed a memory of something fun even deeper! It's not a life style. So I don't feel the need to lock myself down to avoid the less healthy choices on a daily basis. But everyone's different. And also don't sleep on the IMS pork chop on a stick!

[@kieferclarkf1674]

The food sucks at the track. Dry, soggy and insanely expensive. And you don’t take cash as well anymore. Indy is congested, hot, expensive. Didn’t miss a race from ‘93-‘23 but won’t be going anymore. Can pay far less and have better experience at several other tracks. This food they are showing is not what’s offered at 99 percent of the concession stands around the track. Most just have a soggy burger, hot dog or nachos and by halfway of the race they run out of everything. Don’t forget either that you’ll miss 30-40 laps being in line.

[@scottkonop9331]

Not my experience at all.

[@kieferclarkf1674]

@@scottkonop9331 Well I only have 30 years of going there.

[@johnjones5354]

You might have noticed that prices have gone up for EVERYTHING. It was in most of the papers, but you may have missed it. Expecting costs for concessions at a sporting event to stay the same is not reasonable. I personally rarely utilize the concessions, bringing everything in that I need. The fact that I can do that is remarkable, considering that most sports venues won't allow you to bring in your own food/drinks. My suggestion is, if you think that the concession prices are too high, or service is to slow, then bring your own. Or, you could pout and stop attending the greatest race in the world. Up to you.

[@kieferclarkf1674]

@@johnjones5354 Son, those prices got good at Indy were insane always at the track. Roger is a billionaire, 10+ bucks for a shitty soggy burger is unacceptable

[@sdsmt99]

Bring a cooler, or better yet, stay home, you sure like acting miserable.