Gee & Ursula: Props to the Kraken for listening to fans on food prices

There are now a few “value items” for Seattle Kraken fans at Climate Pledge Arena, including pizza, beer, chowder, hot dogs, coffee and hot cocoa.

Seattle Kraken leadership previously announced that lower prices were coming after hearing complaints about the high priced concessions. In an interview with Q13 FOX News’ Aaron Levine, Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke had said, “we’ve heard the fans and we know that they want some family priced items.”

Now, fans will be able to a number of food and drink options under $10, including: cheese pizza or clam chowder for $9; Miller Lite or Miller High Life for $8.75; a hot dog for $8; and four Impossible nuggets with fries, or a “Mini Mac + Cheese” for $7. There are also cookies and ice cream treats for a lower price.

Find a map of the new items here.

For the Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show, this price change brought up the question of whether going to a professional sporting event should be “affordable.”

“Yes, I do believe that going to sporting events should be affordable,” host Gee Scott said. “And it bothers me that there are a lot of families or kids that have never been to a sporting event that probably love [the sport] — whether it’s hockey, baseball, or football — and they’ve never been able to go.”

“As far as food is concerned, I guess it makes sense? If you’re able to afford a ticket, you should be able to afford a $15 hot dog,” he added.

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Host Ursula Reutin gave props to the Seattle Kraken team for listening to the fans and the complaints.

“They’re trying to offer some less expensive options,” she said, later noting that they should start with more affordable ticket prices.

“I think that there should be more programs where people who don’t have a lot of money — and I know those programs exist, and I know the Mariners do it, and I know other pro sports organizations do it — but where you can have affordable options,” Ursula said.

Producer Andrew Lanier did point out that minor league experiences can often be less expensive and, in his opinion, are sometimes more fun than the pro games.

“If you want to watch a sports game, go catch the AquaSox or the Thunderbirds,” he suggested.

All that said, Gee couldn’t help but wonder if people would be as upset about concession prices if the Kraken had a winning record.

Listen to the Gee and Ursula Show weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.