WHY DO THEY CALL IT A CONCESSION STAND? (In the Entertainment industry.)

Concessions / Photo Credit: Wallet Hub

WHY DO THEY CALL IT A CONCESSION STAND? (In the Entertainment industry.)  

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Why do they call it a concession stand?

Concessions at a ballpark or at another venue are called that because the stadium has granted the right to sell food to a certain provider. Chew on that the next time you're munching on peanuts at a game. 

In 1905, the advent of nickelodeon theaters changed the landscape of American entertainment, which was still dominated by live performances, from stage plays to vaudeville. By 1907, around 3,000 nickelodeon theaters had opened, and by 1914 an estimated 27 percent of Americans were going to the movies every week.

Concessions were not sold inside nickelodeons, but snack bars and candy shops frequently flanked the theaters, and independent popcorn and peanut vendors hawked their goods in the theater aisles. It didn’t take much to entice people with popcorn, an already immensely popular treat—they delighted in its transformation from kernel to pop, and were enchanted by its bewitching aroma. According to Andrew F. Smith’s excellent social history, Popped Culture, popcorn vendors had been tantalizing customers since the 1840s, appearing at pretty much any crowded event—fairs, rallies, you name it.

But theater owners had yet to realize just how lucrative concessions could be. Far from embracing food sales, many were downright hostile toward them, particularly as nickelodeons gave way to the fancier movie houses of the teens and ‘20s. During those two decades, in an effort to enhance the movie going experience, ambitious showmen constructed opulent movie palaces, like Sid Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, which opened in 1927. These palaces, some of which cost millions to build, could rival the sophistication of European opera houses. Appointed with expensive antiques, marble columns, bejeweled chandeliers, and even perfume sprayed into common spaces, they transported moviegoers to another world. Yet it was a world without munchies.

Movie theater owners wanted their venues to remain upscale, free from the chomping of snacks you’d find at burlesque shows. They also wanted their plush theaters garbage-free. But as in the nickelodeon days, entrepreneurial vendors sold snacks outside. Popcorn kernels and candy wrappers ended up littering theaters despite owners’ best efforts to keep food out.        

A concession stand (American English), snack kiosk or snack bar (British English, Irish English) is a place where patrons can purchase snacks or food at a cinema, amusement park, zoos, aquariums, fair, stadium, beach, swimming pool, concert, sporting event, or other entertainment venue. Some events or venues contract out the right to sell food to third parties. Those contracts are often referred to as a concession — hence the name for a stand where food is sold. Usually prices for goods at concession stands are greater than elsewhere for the convenience of being close to an attraction, with outside food and drink being prohibited, and they often contribute significant revenue to the venue operator (especially in the case of movie theaters).

History

Concession stands were not originally operated by the movie theaters, and food was often sold by people attending the film or by vendors outside of the theater.

Movie theaters were at first hostile to food in their facilities, but during the Great Depression, theaters added concession stands as a way to increase revenue in the economically stagnant times. By the 1930s, concession stands were a main fixture in many theaters. During World War II, candy was scarce at concession stands because of the sugar rationing going on at the time, and popcorn became more popular than before.

In the late 1940s, and early 1950s, as movie ticket sales were down, sales of food at concession stands increased. In the US concession owners are represented by the National Association of Concessionaires and the National Independent Concessionaires Association.

Types of food

Concession stands typically sell junk food. The most basic concessions at movie theaters include candy, popcorn and soft drinks. Larger concession facilities in stadiums, amusement parks and newer movie theatres have enabled the sale of a limited selection of fast food, including grilling stations and hotplates to prepare hot foods (hamburgers, French fries, pizza, hot dogs, corn dogs, nachos, pretzels, peanuts, popcorn, cotton candy, and churros), and freezers to store cold desserts (snow cones, slushies and ice cream). Sports stadiums/arenas and rock concert venues sell beer and other mild alcoholic beverages, usually in plastic disposable cups since glass bottles could be used as projectiles by unruly spectators. Formal entertainment venues such as symphony concert halls and opera houses often eschew fast food and junk food for more upscale fare, including wine, coffee and tea, baked desserts, and pastries.

Although the above are the most popular common staples at concession stands, there are often region-specific variations. For instance, Citizens Bank Park has Philadelphia-style food stands, including several which serve cheesesteaks, hoagies, and other regional specialties. Busch Stadium includes standard ballpark fare like bratwurst, nachos and peanuts, but also has St. Louis-area favorites such as pork steak sandwiches and toasted ravioli; uniquely Busch Stadium also allows outside food and drink (including soft-sided drink coolers).

The concourse of many newer arenas now include multiple concession stands that essentially form a food court, serving a variety of fast food. Modern stadiums also include numerous grilling stations and soda fountains, bars, cafés, and restaurants. Club seating and luxury boxes have exclusive access to high-end restaurants, cafés, bars, and catering not available to regular ticketholders.

At temporary outdoor events such as fairs, food trucks may operate as concession stands.

Concession operators

Concessions are often contracted out to third parties, including major fast food chains.

References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, Careers Hub, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Blurb, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Chron, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, WGA, BBC, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Studio Binder, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, UCAS, Frankenbite, Realty 101, Careers Hub, Screen Play Scripts, Elements of Cinema, Script Doctor, ASCAP, Film Independent, Any Possibility, CTLsites, NYFA, Future Learn, VOM Productions, Mad Studios, Rewire, DP School, Film Reference, DGA, IATSE, ASC, MPAA, HFPA, MPSE, CDG, AFI, Box Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes, Indie Film Hustle, The Numbers, Netflix, Vimeo, Instagram, Pinterest, Metacritic, Hulu, Reddit, Mental Floss, Slate, Locations Hub, Film Industry Statistics, Jill Hunter Pellettieri,

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Concessions / Photo Credit: Wallet Hub