National radio host Todd Wright attended a Braves spring training game at Champion Stadium in the Disney/ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex last weekend and noted the late inning beer special offered at a concession stand:
A food and beverages rep from Disney’s Wide World of Sports told LBS the beer discount is called the “Throwback Special,” and is available during the sixth inning of every game. Three types of beers — Natty Light, Miller High Life, and Pabst Blue Ribbon — are discounted from their regular price of $6.50 to $3.00 during the sixth inning.
Though we appreciate the team/stadium trying to make things more affordable — Wright notes that they generously offer free parking for fans — we’re confused by the contradictory nature of the discount. Alcohol sales are suspended after the sixth inning because they don’t want people driving home drunk. Yet they’re cutting the price of beer in half during the sixth to encourage people to get all their drinking in then.
Disney has earned a reputation as one of the most family friendly companies in the world and their theme parks are supposed to be some of the happiest places on earth. I can’t imagine them sending a more contradictory message. It’s unwise to promote late-inning drinking at the ballpark before fans drive home. If you’re going to discount beers at all, do it very early in the game and limit the quantity.
