Stadiums aren't in the concessions business anymore. They've pivoted to aviation economics. If your beer price has ever felt like a last-minute flight to Vegas, it's because it is.
Revenue Sequencing
When you go to a game, a stadium can really only sell to you at three points: pregame, halftime, and late-game rush. Once the clock runs out, that revenue evaporates. This is revenue sequencing — pricing based on how much time is left in the game.
It's why the Mariners and the Padres consistently have some of the best-rated fan experiences: they implement happy hours. By pulling revenue forward with early-bird pricing tiers, you remove the bottleneck during the game itself.
The Airline Playbook
Airlines don't just sell you the seat — they bundle it with free checked bags or other perks. Teams are doing the same with geolocation data, bundling offers based on the premium nature of your seating.
This kind of digital telemetry is why a beer price at a game is as volatile as a tech stock. Every sip is dynamically priced. The stadium isn't selling you a drink — it's capturing your discretionary spend in a perishable window.