I grew up on Fenway Franks. Throw on a little Gulden’s and a coke and I was a happy kid. Then I moved to Minnesota and I was OK with two Dome Dogs. I actually would throw in a beer from time to time. I would only buy them from the vendor’s though. For some reason, their’s were always better then what you could get from the concessions stand. This would cause me problems when I brought the boys when they were young, because waiting a couple of innings just wasn’t in their vocabulary.
I’ve never thought much about the condition of the food. But, the recent story from ESPN has to be a eye opener:
• Green Bay Packers’ Lambeau Field: Two locations were cited after an employee "did not wash hands after blowing nose or eating food prior to handling customer food or ice."
• Phoenix Suns’ US Airways Center: Dozens of flies and a live roach in a dish room.
• Denver Broncos’ Mile High Stadium: Fruit flies in whiskey bottles at three bars.
• Miami Dolphins’ Sun Life Stadium: Employee reported small insects and other debris blended into frozen alcoholic drinks.
• Indianapolis Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium: TV report revealed mouse droppings and mice — dead and alive — around the stadium.
• Detroit Lions’ Ford Field: Employee’s half-eaten hamburger found in a warming unit.
• Pittsburgh Steelers’ Heinz Field: A worker was seen washing his hands with his gloves on.
• Pittsburgh Penguins’ Mellon Arena: A live cockroach was found on a soda dispenser holster.
• Washington Wizards’ and Capitals’ Verizon Center: At least 10 vendors with mouse droppings.
The Metrodome was cited for having sanitizing solution that was too weak; a Target Center slicer was not cleaned to prevent cross-contamination; and chicken strips at the Xcel Energy Center were found at 105 degrees, 35 degrees below what is required.
This doesn’t sound very good. With the beautiful Target Field taking over for the Twins, I can assure you that the new hot dogs are safe from me. I had one opening day, not good at all, no matter what was in it. That being said, I hope that this report opens some eyes. Especially, when you consider the prices being paid for this food.
