Jaguars "Fans First Favorites" concession stands a big hit with low prices
· Yahoo Sports
Larry Damato of Jacksonville hadn't even paid and walked away from one of four "Stadium Classics" concession stands at EverBank Stadium on Aug. 21 about 90 minutes before the Jacksonville Jaguars played the Carolina Panthers in a preseason game before he yielded to the temptation and a growling stomach and took a healthy bite out of his hot dog.
"It's really good," he said. "At five bucks, it's even better."
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Damato and his wife Becky walked away from the counter with a dog, a box of popcorn, a serving of nachos, a water and a Bud Lite. Total damage: $24.95 before tax.
The Jaguars and EverBank Stadium unveiled the low-priced menu at the first of two home preseason games, giving some serious relief to fans already reaching deep into their pockets to pay for the experience of taking their family to an NFL game.
The "Fans First Favorites" menu features $4.99 items at four concession stands on the main concourse of the stadium. The offerings and price points will continue for the entire season, with two preseason games and six regular-season games.
Jaguars Chief Operating Officer Chad Johnson said the main items are historically four of the most popular at Jaguars games: hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and pretzels. Also included in the price plan are two bands of12-ounce cans of domestic beer and a 16-ounce bottle of water.
"We'll take it," said Louis Taylor of Jacksonville, who was at the game with his wife Yolanda. "The prices are great, especially at an NFL game."
The Fans First Favorites will continue throughout the season. Here's the fare offered under the Stadium Classics menu and one amateur food critic's grade:
Hot Dogs B
I'm a bit of a snob about hot dogs and lean towards Nathan's. I grew up on Esskay in Maryland (their hot dogs have been discontinued) so I'm a tough critic in this regard.
That said, the Stahl-Meyer brand of dogs served up at Jaguars games is from a company that's been around since 1836 and used to be the dog served at New York Yankees, New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers baseball games. The dogs cooked up at EverBank Stadium are steamed, then put on rollers until they have a nice, healthy reddish glow and a bit of a char. The buns are fresh, always a plus.
Pretzels: A
The Bavarian Pretzels are served soft and warm out of one of those heating units where they hang out, so to speak. There's enough salt for those who like it, but if you're on a low-salt or no-salt diet, you might want to pass.
Nachos: B
The Jags are not skimping on the main ingredient here. The nachos are Tostitos, with a decent handful and a cup each of cheese and salsa. They come in a sturdy cardboard container with holes for the condiments.
Popcorn: B
Honestly, you can't screw popcorn up, other than to serve it stale, which it was not. The popcorn is served in a large enough container to make it well worth the price.
Candy: B
There's a variety of brand-name candy that might be a bit overpriced at $4.99. But have you seen the candy prices in the drug and grocery stores lately? So it's not crazy expensive in comparison.
Beverages: A
There are 16-ounce bottles of water and 12-ounce cans of Bud and Miller Lite. The only thing required is to make sure it's cold and they were. Note to sports editor: I only felt the can of beer to check on the temperature. I did not imbibe.
Consider this: At other parts of the stadium, a 24-ounce can of beer is $16.49. Two 12-ouncers at $10 bucks … that's a deal.
Here's the real bargain when it comes to beverages: Jaguars fans can purchase a souvenir cup that holds 24 ounces for $12.99, bring it back and get free refills all season. I know when my kids were young they would get their fill, so to speak.
"We'll drink as many of these as we can," said Taylor, who said he will be at every game with his wife.
Condiments: C
You can get extra cheese for your nachos or the pretzel for $2.99, and Yucatan Guacamole for $3.49. Given the price point for the other items, that's a bit steep.
Overall experience: A
The Jaguars are making a gesture to fans here. While the team said it's because fans are attending games at half a stadium this year, then losing the team to Orlando next year before the Stadium of the Future is completed for the 2028 season, Johnson said the menu is "a taste of things to come."
"We've been very specific about how food and beverage will play a role in the Stadium of the Future," he said. "We think fans are excited."
The Jaguars said the program was developed "to provide added value to Jaguars ticket holders for the 2026 season," but it's also a preview of a previously announced food and beverage model in the Stadium of the Future, which will feature more local food offerings and pricing of select items that are "comparable to what is found in the marketplace."
"The Fan First Favorites menu offers an array of fan-favorite concession items at a great price," said Jaguars President Mark Lamping in a statement. "From the beginning of the Stadium of the Future planning process, the Jaguars set out to create a better fan experience, including the variety and price of food and beverages. We're proud to begin delivering on that commitment this season."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars "Fans First Favorites" concession stands a big hit with low prices