Damn… the “stadium tax” has even reached the Kentucky Derby.
If you haven’t ever heard of what has become my least favorite tax of all time, it affects millions of sports fans and concert goers every single year. You’ve probably been a victim of the “stadium tax” at one point or another, and you especially have if you’ve ever paid the price of a 12-pack of beer for one singular drink at a game or a concert.
Good luck going to watch your favorite team or going to see your favorite artist live and trying to keep your money spent on alcohol below $50. Nowadays, $50 bucks will MAYBE get you two beers, when you add on the taxes. and the fact that they’ll turn the screen around on you and ask for a tip.
Looks like it’s the same old, same old at the Kentucky Derby this weekend, where those attending the “Run for the Roses” will have to dish out hundreds of dollars if they’re hoping to have a good time. Prices for concessions have been posted onto social media ahead of the matchup, and all I’m saying is that the attendees better win themselves enough at the racetrack (horse betting) to help take care of some of these prices.
Obviously, the signature drink of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby will be the mint julep. The bourbon-based (and in my opinion, overrated) cocktail will surely be in the hands of many of those at Churchill Downs this upcoming Saturday, and it’ll only cost derby goers a smooth $22 bucks per drink. Better make it last if you decide to go with the watered down toothpaste cocktail!
When you look at the rest of the drink menu, $22 is pretty much par for the course. There’s really not much else on the menu that’s not in the $20 range, other than the beers and seltzers that still come in at a price that’s way too high. Here are some of the rest of the prices derby attendees will see:
-Old Forester Mint Julep: $22
-Woodford Reserve spire: $22
-Herradura Horseshoe margarita: $22
-Oaks Lily: $22
-Premium cocktails: $19
-Select wines: $18
-Premium beer and seltzer: $14
-Domestic beer: $13
Look… I’m a big fan of the Kentucky Derby. I’m a Kentucky native and have watched the annual race ever since I can remember. I’ve never been fortunate enough to go to the race myself, and seeing these drinks prices, I’m not really all that interested anymore.
After all, the event is alternatively called the “Fastest Two Minutes In Sports.” People don’t just show up for the one race (there are plenty of preliminary races on the big day), but if that’s what you are there for, going and spending a bunch of money on drinks just for the return of two minutes of big time action doesn’t seem very logical, right?
You know what makes sense to me? Pregaming the Kentucky Derby from the comfort of your own home, turning the race on a couple of minutes before it starts to see which horse runs the fastest, and NOT paying $22 per drink. That’s my kind of Kentucky Derby experience…
