Stadium Etiquette: Tipping

[srock]

Who do you tip at the stadium?

Given the cost of concessions/tickets/parking/etc I never considering gratuity to be part of the deal.

I tip vendors walking around delivering food and beverage, the tip is worth the service they provide.

What about ushers? Tipping them has never crossed my mind, but I could wrong about this.

What do they do to earn a tip?

Dry seats before you sit?

Provide advice?

I always considered the ushers to be the referees of the fan's world. When they do their job right, nobody notices them.

Anybody else I'm forgetting?

[OFFNY]

o

 

When the Orioles played the Red Sox in the last series of the season in September of 2011, the ushers in the field level were being unusually strict in terms of checking everybody's tickets to see if they were sitting in the correct seats. I saw dozens of people that were told to leave when it was discovered that they were doing what I always do ........ buying the cheaper tickets and doing their own "upgrade."

When the usher asked to see mine and my girlfriend's tickets, I showed him. They were $15 upper-reserve tickets ........ but he simply pointed to a row that was right next to us, and told us to enjoy the game.

I gave him $5.00.

 

o

[beervendor]

Tipping is always subjective. Food & beverage vendors and ushers do a physically demanding job in all weather, many giving up nights and weekends with family to earn some extra cash. When I worked there, I always understood it was unreasonable to expect a tip on an eight dollar beer. Most folks ain't made of money. However, if a vendor recognizes you and calls you by name, serves you and your three buddies cold beers all game long, returns each round just before you choke down the last warm-ish swig*, and maybe even runs a tab for you through the game, you've been extraordinarily well served and should consider a little something extra. Tips are routine at the ballpark and very much appreciated, especially for and by those who 'go the extra mile.' JMHO

* - If it gets warm, you're doing it wrong.

[MrOrange82]

Tipping is always subjective. Food & beverage vendors and ushers do a physically demanding job in all weather, many giving up nights and weekends with family to earn some extra cash. When I worked there, I always understood it was unreasonable to expect a tip on an eight dollar beer. Most folks ain't made of money. However, if a vendor recognizes you and calls you by name, serves you and your three buddies cold beers all game long, returns each round just before you choke down the last warm-ish swig*, and maybe even runs a tab for you through the game, you've been extraordinarily well served and should consider a little something extra. Tips are routine at the ballpark and very much appreciated, especially for and by those who 'go the extra mile.' JMHO

* - If it gets warm, you're doing it wrong.

I'd agree with that, but I don't think tipping ushers is nearly as clear cut. As with most things, I think it comes down to the circumstances. If someone in a service role goes above/beyond, it'll be obvious.

[NickM21]

I always tip regardless, although I always find it unsettling when the ushers openly complain about not being tipped immediately after they receive money. I'll hear them scream out "Boy do I love my job!" sarcastically and things like that.

[Frobby]

My feeling about ushers is, if I actually have a reason to want them to wipe my seat off, I tip them for doing it. If they just do it on their own, when I would have been perfectly happy to just go down and be seated unescorted, then I don't tip them.

[atomic]

I give them a couple bucks when they wipe down the seats.

[beervendor]

My feeling about ushers is, if I actually have a reason to want them to wipe my seat off, I tip them for doing it. If they just do it on their own, when I would have been perfectly happy to just go down and be seated unescorted, then I don't tip them.

Agreed - rain, popcorn dust, and nacho cheese are all tippable substances for an usher to remove.

[weams]

Who do you tip at the stadium?

Given the cost of concessions/tickets/parking/etc I never considering gratuity to be part of the deal.

I tip vendors walking around delivering food and beverage, the tip is worth the service they provide.

What about ushers? Tipping them has never crossed my mind, but I could wrong about this.

What do they do to earn a tip?

Dry seats before you sit?

Provide advice?

I always considered the ushers to be the referees of the fan's world. When they do their job right, nobody notices them.

Anybody else I'm forgetting?

I tip ushers and vendors.

[weams]

I always tip regardless, although I always find it unsettling when the ushers openly complain about not being tipped immediately after they receive money. I'll hear them scream out "Boy do I love my job!" sarcastically and things like that.

None of the ushers I have ever encountered are anything like that.

[weams]

Also, if you don't want to tip the vendors, go stand in line.

[Can_of_corn]

"It's not tipping I believe in. It's overtipping."

[weams]

"It's not tipping I believe in. It's overtipping."

You don't tip FBI men!

[HbgOsFan]

I tip ushers and vendors.

Same - it is a service they provide, so I always tip.

[Rich Mac]

No matter where I go (sports, concert, broadway)- I will tip the usher a buck a seat if they take us there. If they just point and say "thattaway", then I don't.

I don't usually buy from the roaming vendors. I go to the concession stands between innings and I don't tip there.

I have never tipped a cow.