The price of a beer "can vary wildly between venues and fans can be left feeling ripped off when they go to games," a survey of Australian stadiums has found, according to ABC NEWS. Keith Parry is a lecturer in sport management at the University of Western Sydney and has been "investigating the cost and quality of food and drink at Australian sporting venues." He turned his attention to the price of beer after a furor over "price rises at Adelaide Oval during the third Test between Australia and South Africa in November." The increase from A$8.90 ($6.46) to A$9.20 ($6.68) prompted South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill to issue a "please explain" to the stadium managers. Parry and his colleague Blair Hughes compared the cost per 100 milliliters of the cheapest beer sold at 21 stadiums. The cheapest beer cost just A$1.39 ($1.01) per 100ml at Hunter Stadium in Newcastle, followed by Canberra's Manuka Stadium at A$1.46 ($1.06). The "most expensive place to buy a drink" was Perth's Subiaco Oval at A$2.42 ($1.76) per 100ml, followed by Adelaide Oval at $2.09 ($1.52). Parry found it was "not the high prices that annoyed fans as much as the low quality of the food and drinks at sporting venues and also difficult service experience." He said, "Having a drink is part of the ritual of going to sport for many people. Once you are there you are a captive market and you don't have many options" (ABC NEWS, 12/20). BUSINESS INSIDER's Parry & Hughes reported fans at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil were "able to buy a local Brahma beer" for as little as R$10 ($2.98). Not only "are the Germans football world champions," but the Bundesliga "leads the way in beer prices." The average cost of a beer in the Bundesliga is less than €4 ($4.16). Different serving sizes "can often mask higher prices, making it hard for a fan to tell" if a A$5.40 ($3.92) Carlton Draught at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is "better value" than paying A$8 ($5.80) for a Carlton Mid at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Exchange rates make global price comparisons "even more difficult and leave fans at the mercy of stadium operators." But, "surprisingly," when beer sizes and prices are standardized, Australian venues do not fare "too badly." Collaborations between teams, stadiums and craft beer breweries "are on the rise." Teams such as the NFL Buffalo Bills and Major League Soccer side DC United "have their own lines of pale ales for fans." In England, football clubs including League Championship side Reading have "called on fans to name their new match-day pale ale." EPL side West Ham’s new ground features two types of craft beer -- Boleyn Bitter and Iron Ale (BUSINESS INSIDER, 12/19).
