When the Colorado Avalanche take the ice for the first time at Ball Arena this season on Thursday night, they’ll be doing so with more affordable concessions in the stands and a few more strong spots to get a bite around the stadium.
Ball Arena, which had some of the most expensive concession costs among sports venues in Denver, is giving fans of the local hockey team and the Denver Nuggets a new “fan-friendly menu.” They’re dropping stadium staples to $5, including hot dogs, which used to go for $7.50, pretzels previously selling for $8, and fountain sodas that are down from $6.50
The biggest change comes with 20-ounce domestic beer drafts – Coors, Coors Light, Michelob Ultra, and Avalanche Ale – all dropping to $10 from $14. The Avs say this will be available at nearly all food stands with draft beer on the 100 and 300 levels, as well as at two locations on Club Level.
Here’s the full new Ball Arena Fan Friendly menu
Hot dog – $5
Cheese nacho – $5
Popcorn – $5
Candy – $5
Fries – $5
Jumbo pretzel – $5
(Available outside Sections 112 and 319 and Colorado Social Grab and Go on the club level)
But that’s not all, the teams welcome new vendors that are some of the best spots from around Denver. Headlining is two in-arena locations for Redeemer Pizza, one of the most delicious pies in the Mile High City, with a spot in Five Points. The group that owns Redeemer also has Dio Mio, Little Johnny B’s and some other spots around town. At Ball, they’ll do NY-style pizza.
Also entering Ball Arena is Denver’s New Orleans-themed standout Nola Jane, local BBQ hit Big Belly, Coors Field area fried taco staple Mexico City, Illegal Burger and Jakes Baby D’s is back by popular demand.
“Downtown is the heart of Denver’s expansive culinary scene,” said Amanda Caldwell, Executive Director of Venue Operations at Ball Arena, in a news release. “We want our fans to be just as excited about eating at Ball Arena as they are to pick up from their favorite neighborhood spot on the way home from work. The easiest way to do that is to invite those restaurants into our building.”
The Broncos have done similar things both with value concessions and local vendors in recent years at Empower Field. It’s a nice move, but let’s not act like $15 for a beer and a hot dog is not crazy, even if it is somehow slightly better than before.
President of the teams and the arena, Kevin Demoff, shared that the fan feedback drove the change, though quailty remains the most important factor in everything they do. So keep talking, Avs faithful and Nuggets nation — KSE is listening, which is a great step.