AlbanyThursday, November 12
State lawmakers are weighing a cap on concession prices at taxpayer-backed venues like Highmark Stadium
The Daily Buffalo team
If an $11.63 hot dog made you wince at Highmark Stadium, Albany noticed. The Assembly's Consumer Protection Committee held a hearing Tuesday on "street pricing." Brian Hess of the Sports Fans Coalition told lawmakers Highmark sells the NFL's most expensive hot dog.
Assembly Bill A8921 would require certain publicly subsidized venues to price food and nonalcoholic drinks no more than 20% above comparable items nearby. The bill, called the Fair Concessions Pricing Act, remains in committee and has not become law.
- Cap: 20% above the average at nearby businesses
- Radius: businesses within 10 miles
- Venues: at least 2,500 seats and public funding
- Poll: 73% of likely voters backed such limits
Lawmakers also raised the stadium's 6% county surcharge, which WYRK says hit a September tally of $1,796,856.42 and $2.87 million since the season started. The Bills didn't respond to requests for comment.