Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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Jamie Aylward, juni or in electrical engineering, works for the Gamma Phi Beta sorority at a concession stand during a football game. (Photo by Chris Assaf) Pledges of the Kappa Sigma work one of the concession stands during half-time of the K- State-Army game. (Photo by Chris Assaf) 20

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Despite the disappointment of rainy weather and the Austin Peay State University 26-22 upset of the Wildcats ' football season opener, the Willie Nelson and Family Concert bene fitting Farm Aid proceeded the game as scheduled. (Photo by John Thelander)

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fans evour concessions The aroma of polish sausage tickles the nostrils. The sound of crunching popcorn makes mouths water, sending surges of hunger pangs through the stomachs of restless fans. Concentrating on the game becomes pointless, and the only thing that will bring is a trip to the stand. Concessions stands aren ' t just traditions at athletic events, they ' ve become necessities. K-State Stadium services spectators with 14 stands and vendors during football and games, and hungry fans take advantage of all of them. It would boggle your mind at the amount of stuff we go through, said Dennis Schwant, concessions manager. It took 40 50-pound buckets of oil to pop enough corn to satisfy customers at the season opener against Austin Peay. During big games, fans eat more than 760 dozen hot dogs and polish sausages, Schwant said. Preparing all this food takes time, and the stands must have a full work crew and be stocked when the gates open two hours before Bill Coiner, sophomore in technology, puts out boxes to be filled with popcorn just before the halftime rush of the K-State- Army game. (Photo by Chris Assaf) the game. Vickie Beckley, stand manager, said it took 21 2 hours to pop six cases of popcorn used in just one stand. The hot dogs must be done when the gates open, Beckley said. That ' s another reason we have to be here so early. E.S. Webb and Co. owns the concession stands and employs 190 people to manage them. But, labor during the game is free. Members of the fraternities, sororities and other organizations volunteer their time to work in order to keep 10 percent of the sales. Kevin Meyerhoff, senior in business administration and member of Phi Kappa Theta, said it ' s hard work. It gets monotonous. If you don ' t talk to people who come in here, you get bored to death, he said. E.S. Webb and Co. not only puts food in the bellies of sports fans, but it also puts the clothes on their backs. The eye-catching stands enticing passersby with sweatshirts, and penants were also owned by E.S. Webb and Co. As long as there are sports and spectators, there will be hunger — and the concession stands will be there to satisfy it. by Audra Dietz 21 concession Stand