NFL Tickets
Is there a greater phrase in the English language than “All-You-Can-Eat?” Okay, fine – “world peace” and “universal healthcare” are valuable phrases, too, but they don’t come with unlimited nachos.
Since the Los Angeles Dodgers kicked things off in 2007, ballparks all around Major League Baseball have devoted entire sections to All-You-Can-Eat ticket packages where your MLB ticket purchase comes with the best perk of all: as much ballpark food as you can shovel into your mouth in nine innings. It may sound too good to be true, but it’s real and if you want to get the most out of your AYCE tickets, just follow these 5 simple rules:
Soda is for Suckers
Unlimited soda is the dream of many nine-year-olds, but it has the lowest cost of any other item on the ballpark buffet. Six massive Cokes sounds like a good idea, but that’s like $1.26 worth of pop, bro. With a massive wallop of carbonation, soda also fills you up much quicker than other beverages and that means less room for other fun treats like nachos, nachos, and more nachos. If you’re looking to load up on value, you’re better off sticking to water. Bottles of water are super pricey at MLB parks, so you’re getting a high-value drink that’s less filling than soda and it’ll keep you hydrated when you get the meat-sweats from eating 14 hot dogs.
Nachos or Nuts?
Your snack selection at AYCE sections of MLB games consists mainly of cold, salty things. Candy is usually off-limits and fries are rarely, if ever, included. That means you’re going picnic style with peanuts, popcorn, or nachos. If you’re old school, hit up that popcorn. If you’re a protein fiend, peanuts are your best bet. For my money, though, I like to get those nachos. They’re an extravagance I usually don’t allow myself when I’m paying retail price ($4 for pre-made nachos? No way), but when they’re included as an all-you-can-eat option, I pour on the nacho cheese like it’s made of very inexpensive gold. Fun fact: nachos can be used as an effective rally starter.
Hack the Buffet
When you’ve got an AYCE buffet available to you, the options are endless. Why just settle for nachos when you can make Hot Dog-chos? Why limit yourself to popcorn when you can mix them with peanut-butter filled pretzels and ice cream for the sundae of your dreams? (Note: all of these items are available at Pirates games.) Get creative with the items available to you and transcend the buffet by making Frankenfoods that prove you’re an MLB AYCE Master.
Go Chicago-style: Early and Often
Think about it: the concessions workers aren’t worrying too much about offering you fresh food throughout your AYCE experience. They probably load the buffet at the beginning of the game and don’t worry about refilling it until the buffet runs dry. That means the longer you wait to hit the buffet, the more time your food has been sitting there. In Chicago, the joke is that people vote early and often. With AYCE tickets, the same rule applies. Go to the buffet as soon as you get to the park and then keep going until you’re full. If you wait until the fifth inning for your second trip, odds are that you’ll be very disappointed with the results.
Don’t Count
While All-You-Can-Eat situations are clearly about getting the most value for your money, you will surely make yourself crazy if you try to calculate the value of absolutely everything you’re eating. In fact, it’ll drive you so nuts that you’ll forget about the game completely and just focus on the food. That may be fine if the Royals are getting blown out and you’re drowning your sorrows in peanuts, but you’re there to enjoy the game AND eat a ton of food. Don’t ignore the game-enjoyment part. Just eat enough to know you’ve gotten some value on your ticket and then sit back and relax. It’s a Major League Baseball game, not a Major League Eating competition.
Don’t just save on hotdogs. Unlike other ticket sites, when you get your MLB tickets from ScoreBig.com, you can save up to 60% below box office price.
by Jason Kessler
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