The Houston Astros benefit their fans by not allowing outside food/drink in their ballpark.

I'm sure it will be fun. I will start by presenting my own case (as I have not already) and then respond to my opponents arguments. Benefit- Something that is advantageous or good; an advantage. Contention 1- Avoids Price Gouging The worst part about going to an Astro's game, or any sporting event for that matter, is going to the consecion stand and paying $6 for a soda and another $7.25 for Nachos and another $4.25 for Peanuts (. http://www.chron.com...). If you drink two beers in the game, and get the Nachos and Peanuts you've put down $23.5 on food at the game, or you could buy 10 Nachos for Taco Bell ($.79,$.89,$.99), a case of soda, and 5 bags of peanuts. Now wouldn't that be a better way to enjoy the game? The Point is that the prices inside the stadium are reqiculous. Anyone can see that, and if you paying all that money for a ticket then it would be beneficial to at least have the option to combate their rediculous prices. Contention 2- Allow Bottled Water Why should you have to pay $4 for a bottle water, what if I get thirsty I can't even have water? Pretty simple to me. Contention 3- Everyone else is doing Of the 30 Ball parks in Major League Baseball, 29 allow some kind of food/drink into their ballparks. Only the Astro's don't. (. http://www.chron.com...). However the Houston Astros owner attests that banning outside food/drink is "kind of a tradition". Well that's a dumb tradition, why would you want you fans to go hunger/thirsty in the ball park because they can't afford food/drink inside the ballpark. That tradition has probally spraked the tradition in houston where everyone leave the game starting in the six or seventh inning. If the Astros cared about they're fans they would benefit them by allowing outside food and drink, all the other ball clubs do. Contention 4- The economy If you haven't notice the economy isn't that great, Houston just doesn't get it. The Gaints do, "It gives (fans) a choice, and it gives them options, especially in this economic climate," said Giants spokeswoman Shana Daum. "Now more than ever, I think they appreciate it. " Oh course fans would appreciate having that option, that's all where asking for her is to allow fans to be able to take food/drinks into the stadium if they want to. Yeah, there's a bunch of rich Houstonians who don't care if they pay $7 for beer and another $7 for a hot dog, but us average joes out there we can't afford to pay that. Honestly, people would be more willing to go to more games if they could bring they're own food. Think about, on the way home from work swing by McDonalds, go to the game and chow down on your Big Mac, or even make your own homemade sandwhich and take it to the game. You could even buy a twelve pack of soda, throw it in a cooler with some ice and boom you have drinks for the whole family: $3 for the twelve pack, $1 for the Ice, You already have a cooler, Total cost per game: $4 or you can pay the same price for one soda. Your choice. Awnsering My opponents arguments: Contention 1- Ok, I agree Texans are fat, but not allowing them to bring in out side food and drink doesn't mean much. You can't sit their and tell me that ballpark food is healthy. What constitutes ball park food: Pizza, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Beer, Soda, French Fries, oh and only at Minute Maid: "A ginormous baked potato buried in cheese, loaded down with sweet pulled pork meat, doused in barbecue sauce, smothered in onions, and topped with jalapeno peppers. No, this [isn't just a fat boy's] dream, it's a true ballpark delicacy that can only be had at Minute Maid Park in Houston. " (. http://sports.espn.go.com...) None of those foods are healthy, they're all just exspensive. If someone wanted to bring in healthy food (like Subway for instance, or a salad) they can't cause they're barred from doing so. And trust me, I know some fat people, and they like to eat. So since you still have the food available they will buy it, eat it, and go back for seconds. These people don't care how much it costs, they're just gonna eat anything in sight. Contention 2- Most ball parks, even when allowing food/drink into they're ballparks still ban alcholic beverages, and for good reason. They don't want twenty thousand drunk people running around the stadium, by selling the alchol they can limit drunkness. Contention 3-"A ginormous baked potato buried in cheese, loaded down with sweet pulled pork meat, doused in barbecue sauce, smothered in onions, and topped with jalapeno peppers. No, this [isn't just a fat boy's] dream, it's a true ballpark delicacy that can only be had at Minute Maid Park in Houston. " How is this not messy? Besides, I've never been to an Astros game without getting ketchup and mustard all over myself. Call me a messy eatter, but I'm pretty sure the food they serve at the ballpark is messy, so if fans where aloud to bring food in it wouldn't be any messier. Contention 4- Ok, Houston sucks, but maybe they sould think of another strategy. How about they allow outside food and drink, and then when people don't have spend as much on consessions more people will be willing to come to the games, you know the cheap people that like to save every penny, and even if you allow outside food/drink it wouldn't hurt revenues as much as you'd expect because many fans would still buy food at the ball park. Look at the Yankees, they always have the most money in baseball, and they allow outside food/drink. And it doesn't hurt them, why? 'Cause they sell out they're games. If the Astros could draw more people to the games (I know they're bad, but have promotional nights or something), forcing the already supportive fans to dish out more just weakens the fan base. In conclusion, you have to look at the 'benefit' to the Astros fans. Clearly they're would be a benefit to the fans by having more options, reducing price gouging, and the Helping they're fans combate the Economy. These benefits out weigh any of my opponents arguments because all of the other MLB teams have opened up there stadiums to allowing outside food/drink. Obviously, it would be advantagous for Astro fans to be allowed to bring in outside food/drink. Come on Astros, get with the program!