04/19/24
July 26, 2010
The Disgusting Truth About Stadium Food: An ESPN survey of 107 food concessions at U.S. pro sports venues finds that 28 percent have been cited for at least one "critical" or "major" health violation. "Mold in ice machines at six stands at Miller Park in Milwaukee," ESPN reports. "A cockroach crawling over a soda dispenser in a private club at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. Food service workers repeatedly ignoring orders to wash their hands at a stand at Detroit's Ford Field." Yum!
(from the complete breakdown of every location)
Air Canada Centre
Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs
Vendors with critical violations: 0%
Inspection report excerpt: No critical or major violations.
Rogers Centre
Toronto Blue Jays
Vendors with critical violations: 0%
Inspection report excerpt: No critical or major violations
Good old Toronto. Perpetuating the stereotype of the "clean city".
posted by grum@work at 07:45 PM on July 26, 2010
Love this section from the article:
In Chicago, inspectors routinely visit pro sports stadiums and arenas when they are empty and no workers are serving food, and will visit them during operation only in response to a complaint.
Inspectors found no critical violations at U.S. Cellular Field or Wrigley Field, where the Chicago White Sox and Cubs play, respectively, or at United Center, where the Bulls and Blackhawks play home games
So, let me see if I have this correctly, you visited the sites when they weren't in operation, and thus didn't see any workers preparing food, nor did you even see food being handled.
Hard to imagine how each of the venues had no critical violations.
As someone that has spent the majority of my career in the hospitality field on some level, I do have to admit that all of my restaurants were safer when we were closed.
posted by dviking at 07:54 PM on July 26, 2010
Air Canada Centre
Inspection report excerpt: No critical or major violations
Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs
Vendors with critical violations: 0%
There's tons of time to clean in between those 7 customers per game...
posted by MeatSaber at 10:00 PM on July 26, 2010
There's tons of time to clean in between those 7 customers per game...
Huh ?
The Raptors rank 14th (of 30) in average attendance in the NBA (90.4% capacity) .
The Maple Leafs rank 5th (of 30) in average attendance in the NHL (102.5% capacity).
posted by tommybiden at 10:10 PM on July 26, 2010
Twas a joke, is all...don't get all stats-y on me...
posted by MeatSaber at 10:18 PM on July 26, 2010
This is a spin-off article on Rexall Place in Edmonton (and another one), who apparently fared the worst among Canadian arenas.
posted by Spitztengle at 10:21 PM on July 26, 2010
Twas a joke, is all...don't get all stats-y on me...
Gotcha.
Comerica Park
Detroit Tigers
Vendors with critical violations: 51%
Ford Field
Detroit Lions
Vendors with critical violations: 70%
Joe Louis Arena
Detroit Red Wings
Vendors with critical violations: 52%
The Palace of Auburn Hills
Detroit Pistons
Vendors with critical violations: 31%
Interestingly enough, those percentages are identical to the chance of being affected by crime/unemployment if you live near or, attend events at those stadiums.
(sorry, but I needed stats-y for the joke) .
posted by tommybiden at 10:38 PM on July 26, 2010
It seems the problem in St. Louis is that no one washes their hands. Or, at least no one dries them after. That may explain the soggy nachos.
posted by BoKnows at 10:47 PM on July 26, 2010
I guess it would be ironic to say that I've lived in the Detroit area for almost 38 years now, but the only time I've ever been mugged was in Toronto...
posted by MeatSaber at 11:01 PM on July 26, 2010
The Palace of Auburn Hills
Detroit Pistons
Vendors with critical violations: 31%
Interestingly enough, those percentages are identical to the chance of being affected by crime/unemployment if you live near or, attend events at those stadiums.
It sure is rough living in the 26th wealthiest county in the United States.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 11:28 PM on July 26, 2010
I guess it would be ironic to say that I've lived in the Detroit area for almost 38 years now, but the only time I've ever been mugged was in Toronto...
My comment t'was also a joke.
Don't get all defensive-y and anecdote-y on me.
posted by tommybiden at 11:30 PM on July 26, 2010
I was hoping there was a correlation between having no violations and not winning anything, given that the Cubs and Leafs are represented on there, but the Blackhawks ruined that. (and the Patriots are there too, but you know.)
posted by boredom_08 at 11:43 PM on July 26, 2010
Heh, not defensive at all. Truth is, I love Toronto. Except for that one time, I've never had a bad time there. It's the only city I gone to, sports-wise, where I didn't think I would get knifed just for being a Detroit fan. You want an anecdote, here ya go...
February, 1998. My girlfriend and I went to Toronto to visit the HHOF, see the Cup with the Wings finally engraved in our lifetime and all that. We were walking around Eaton Centre, and I needed a smoke, so we went up to the street. I was in my Yzerman jersey, and she had on her Fedorov jersey...and Feds was holding out that season. When we got outside, there was a crowd of maybe 8 young guys behind us on the street. When they saw us, they started chanting "Ninety-one...ninety-one." I turned around, and with a big grin on my face, started, "sixty-seven, clap, clap, clapclapclap". They all started laughing and walked over for high fives. I could never have done that in Chicago, I tell you that...
That said, I still hate the friggin Leafs...
posted by MeatSaber at 11:56 PM on July 26, 2010
For what it's worth, some of the quotes in the article are right on, in that it is very common for a restaurant to have a critical, or two, noted during an inspection.
I have passed the food management testing in several states, and while some are more stringent that others, they all are trying to do the best they can to keep people safe while allowing the establishments to operate. Most inspectors will tell you that few places score 100%, most having some minor issues. Even what is labeled as a "critical" might not really be all that bad. For example, one of the arenas was noted for having a chemical in an unmarked bottle. Probably a Windex type product in a spray bottle that was stored properly with all the other cleaning supplies, but the label was worn off. No way was the chemical ever going to infect the food, but it was noted.
So, don't sweat a few deductions, but a restaurant ought to be above 90%. I always look for the hand sink...no towels or soap present...eat somewhere else!
posted by dviking at 12:21 AM on July 27, 2010
I guess it would be ironic to say that I've lived in the Detroit area for almost 38 years now, but the only time I've ever been mugged was in Toronto...
Probably someone from Detroit, looking for work in Toronto. Not for a job, per se, but for a chance to mug someone who HAD a job, and therefore money.
:)
posted by grum@work at 01:57 AM on July 27, 2010
Probably someone from Detroit, looking for work in Toronto. Not for a job, per se, but for a chance to mug someone who HAD a job, and therefore money.
Dude was wearing a Rance Mulliniks T-shirt...nobody outside TO liked that guy...
OK, I totally made that last bit up...
posted by MeatSaber at 05:10 AM on July 27, 2010
It was strange to me that TD Garden is at 21% while Fenway is 4% and Gillette 0%, but then I realized the roaches probably couldn't afford the vendor fees to work the other two places, so they all went to North Station.
posted by yerfatma at 08:55 AM on July 27, 2010
Good one yerfatma - though I'd've thought the Monster would house a pretty decent roach home in all that space
posted by kokaku at 03:30 PM on July 27, 2010
Don't eat the food in Florida - 67% is the lowest percentage