- Food vendors phased out at many AFL grounds
- Famed for selling pies and drinks to eager fans
- Ex-Collingwood star Dane Swan was in disbelief
Former AFL star Dane Swan was shocked after discovering food vendors armed with meat pies and cold drinks no longer exist at many professional sporting grounds across Australia.
Swan, 41, who won a premiership with Collingwood in 2010, couldn’t believe the game-day experience has slowly been phased out.
‘I was ridiculed (by friends) for not realising that people don’t walk around footy stadiums selling hot pies and cold drinks anymore,’ he tweeted on X.
‘I genuinely would like to know why they don’t these days? It’s outrageous they don’t.’
A host of footy fans were quick to point out to Swan why supporters can no longer purchase items from food vendors.
‘Health and safety regulations, as walking around with a tray of food is not keeping the food at a temperature it should be,’ posted one.
Former AFL star Dane Swan was shocked after discovering footy vendors armed with meat pies and cold drinks no longer exist at many professional sporting grounds across Australia
Vendors were previously part of the game day experience for many footy fans (pictured, a youngster at work at a 2014 AFL game at the MCG)
Swan took to X for confirmation and he couldn’t believe the game-day experience has slowly been phased out
‘Stopped when Covid (global pandemic) started, they (AFL) just haven’t brought it back,’ another said.
‘Because everyone pays by EFTPOS not cash these days,’ a third weighed in with.
Daily Mail Australia understands food vendors still cater for fans at games staged at the MCG – but it is a different story elsewhere.
Food choices at some footy grounds are also very different compared to when Swan was playing for the Magpies between 2002 and 2016.
At the SCG – home of the Sydney Swans – hospitality giant Merivale now cater for hungry fans, with high-end options such as Queen Chow and Vinnie’s Pizza.
The Daily Mail also recently visited McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle for an NRL game – and feeding the family didn’t come cheap.
A seafood basket retailed for $17.20, with fish and chips [$16.20] also hefty in price.
Even a humble classic beef pie cost $6.60, the same amount for hot chips and a sausage roll.
Additionally, washing the food down with a couple of beers was an eye-watering experience – cans of Stone & Wood Pacific Ales were $13.80 each.
