Val’s and Runza out?
- Thread starter Pyrogasm
- Start date
This is an angle that I had not considered. Maybe it wasn't a "curse" in the traditional sense but more a very predictable consequence of getting rid of those crispy rolls of canned dog food. I'm convinced, anyway.
Getting rid of Runza would be blasphemy. Not sure what Vals brings to the table other than nostalgia at this point. Certainly isn’t a consistently good slice of pizza — but might as well keep it if the alternative is generic stadium catering trash that amounts to glorified truck stop pizza (which seems to be the case in a lot of other stadiums I’ve been to).
It means more $$$ to the University and for Aramark to make any $ they are going to torpedo quality and jack up prices to NFL venue levels. In the LJS article Val’s owner Anthony M. stated that he was disappointed to have lost out on the offer, but was not opposed to still selling through (or to) Aramark. No work from Runza.
Most stadium food is just horrid and what makes unique is the local food choices. If true, I for one will be hugely disappointed and will be likely be eating before I enter the statement. If I were Vals and Runza, I would get two or three food trucks strategically placed and serve pundits as they are coming to the game. Oh yea, I will be even more upset if they bring in something other than Fairbury Hotdogs.
I agree with some previous comments that Val’s is distinctly average today, but it is kinda nice to get the triple-hitter (Runza, Val’s and Fairbury Hotdog) on gameday.
that will NEVER happen ... unless it's to replace it with RED KINGDOM by Tech Nine
Is axing the Spring game an AD decision ALONE or is Rhule involved in helping make this decision with player safety in mind?
Guarantee, he could overrule any plans Matt Rhule has for the spring game… but doesn’t seem within Rhule’s character to F with the spring game. Regardless, what they say, I think it was dictated to him.
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The meat twinkies warm you from the inside on cold November games.
Haha
I don’t hate it but it’s pretty garbagy
If they start serving Casey’s at Husker games, I’ll quite Huskers and become an Iowa fan
I think Casey’s is HQ’ed in Iowa actually, but not for certain…might be Kum and Go, I forget
Pretty certain it's the opposite, actually. AD doesn't benefit at all from dismantling the spring game and bringing in less dollars. Seems pretty clear this is Rhule changing with the times vis-a-vis preserving numbers with the reduced roster size -- both in relation to injury and poaching. Rhule has shown a knack for being pretty prescient with these things, so guessing most other big programs will follow suit.
I don't think anybody likes or wants these types of changes, but these are the current times. And as with most things that nobody really asked for or wanted, I won't be surprised if some of these traditions return once people have finally had enough of the corporatization of college sports and the pendulum swings back the other way a bit.
Rhules idea. Don’t think player safety is huge concern. Practice is harder on them than anything that happens in light scrimmage. I know Bell/Hill got hurt last year but probably an anomaly for a Spring Game.
Agree with all minus the money making part. Generates a small amount revenue but also costs money to put on the event. Bottom line impact of the Spring Game is likely a rounding error.
both are HQed in Iowa, I believe Kum n Go was possibly sold though.
Think only like 5-10% goes to NIL. They are basically just paying a small license fee to put the 1890 logo on their can.
Im sure theyll have it there though. Would be dumb not.
east campus should be producing at least 3 tasty brews that are exclusively sold at NU events (sporting and otherwise) which purely benefit NIL
Probably pretty meaningful to the downtown business owners…..
The beer sales are gonna be something they are still figuring out. My catering friend says they had to bring in refrigerated trucks for the VB and concert. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out. I do know A LOT of people will complain about the wait times to get a beer.
That’s right. They sold handful of stores to Caseys prior but then sold the actual company to someone else
I think that is what the $10MM invest in facilities from Aramark is going to solve
Agree on wait times but they’ll figure out. Uncharted territory for Memorial Stadium, not for stadiums in general
We weren’t talking about them. We were talking about the AD losing money.
Also last I checked, they said they aren’t playing the game itself, not scrapping the day entirely.
Tony 50%
Michael (son) ?%
Anthony (son) ?%
* What does that have to do with anything if he owned 50%? If Tony was 80+ years old and he’s no longer with us and we must assume his sons are noticeably younger does that not mean that ownership is younger?
You saw my math in my previous post. Show me where I’m off.
The part where you think they sell 50k slices a game. Doubt its even half that.
I forget the cost of the annual contract. I don’t think the University takes a cut of every sale but charges them a pretty penny for the right to sell at the games.
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I can’t believe Rhule is naïve enough to think anyone wants to steal our “scheme”, or that it’s going to prevent poaching of players in any way… possibly he just doesn’t want to F with it, but if the AD insisted an old-school spring game, it would be happening…he is MRs boss after all, so the buck with whatever happens, ultimately stops with him.
Remember when he was hired, there were complaints that he was a performative “wokester”. I dismissed those concerns at the time, but the fact that he wants to incorporate soccer, and women’s athletics in the football spring game, makes me question my initial dismissal of those complaints.
I could be 100% off based on all this crap, but something definitely smells in this whole declaration.
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I would agree in regards to the gate receipts. but if you calculate what’s added to the local economy from the railyard, and surrounding area, it’s probably a pretty substantial amount.
Throw in what it means to the fans, and recruiting bump, I think it’s an asinine idea, unless there’s more to it than they’re telling us.
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It will take them a little time to get it dialed in. Go to some UVA games, the first year they sold beer in the stadium it was a 30-40 minute wait - the ID checks took forever, wrist band, only 2-3 beers per person, etc... This year (2-3 years later) it was easier to get a beer than a coke.
But they’re still going to do something, right? The local bars and restaurants will be fine as long as it’s an event. People will still come. The spring game as a whole is pretty unwatchable. People lose interest fast and leave the stadium to go have some fun on a Saturday.
Local economy argument I buy. Recruiting impact is negligible, especially in a new recruiting landscape.
I think people are still acting like they aren’t going to do anything though. I think they are still going to try and draw fans and bring in recruits. They just aren’t going to scrimmage.
Maybe it is ultimately a disaster but worth seeing what they do in its place. Also not a permanent decision for future years
Well, that 100% depends what they do. If they put forth a shit product, then folks probably won’t show up in the numbers they usually do. I know if they’re going to incorporate soccer into the program, I certainly wouldn’t find myself there. I have attended the spring game in the past for football. Folks may show up this time, but if it sucks, it’s gonna be tough to pull them back next time.
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I agree in the NIL era, it’s different….however, if a player has competing NIL offers…fan support, and facilities can make the difference. I don’t think NIL negates the need for facility improvements, and showcasing fan support.
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Sure but our fan support speaks throughout the season too. We will still draw more fans to whatever they put on than 80% of schools will still doing a formal Spring Game.
I view this year as a bit of an experiment. Maybe they find something that lands. If they don’t, I see no reason they won’t rethink their decision and bring it back in 2026.
I think its ok to not like the decision but also think we should reserve some judgement till the dust settles.
