Part-time beer vending at Seahawks games pays well, but isn’t easy
Sep 15, 2014, 10:59 AM | Updated: 1:38 pm
Kevin Zelko, a special education teacher who moonlights as a beer vendor at Seahawks games, says he lugs about 80 pounds up and down those stadium steps. (Photo courtesy Kevin Zelko)
(Photo courtesy Kevin Zelko)
Kevin Zelko, a special education teacher who moonlights as a beer vendor at Seahawks games, said he loves his side gig, but he really has to hustle to make good money.
Zelko told KIRO Radio he sold 556 beers in the first regular season home game against the Green Bay Packers.
“Added up with tip, it was about $1,275. I had to take myself out for a steak dinner and a nice bottle of wine afterward. When you make $1,200 in a day, why not?”
But Zelko said the Sept. 4 game was nowhere near a typical day at CenturyLink Field.
“My highest amount was $700 when we played the Jets with Favre – and it was a snow day. The only place to buy beer was from the vendors,” he said.
If you’re thinking $1,200 for three or four hours of work amongst crazed Seahawks fans sounds pretty incredible, Zelko cautioned it’s not for the weak.
“It’s very hard work. Right when I leave, I’ll take out three 24 packs. This year they’re cans, so it’s interesting – it’s a good little workout.”
Zelko said he’s probably hauling about 80 pounds up and down the aisles.
If you’re making a career of it, you’ll travel from stadium to stadium the whole year.
“They’ll drive to Spokane, Portland, and Arizona,” he said.
Not only is it extremely physically demanding, Zelko said beer vending can get really competitive.
“I’ve seen fights over who gets beer filled first – and those two guys happen to be twins. That kind of world only exists in the beer vendor world.”
He said the ‘geeky vendors’ start strategizing as soon as they get to the stadium, but seniority also plays a role.
“Whoever has been there the longest gets to pick the better room to be based out of so that you’ll be able to get to the prime spots better,” Zelko said.
The vendors who’ve been around for 15 years get the best spots and make the most money.
Zelko started using Twitter about five years ago at Safeco Field to interact with his customers during Mariners games.
“They could tweet to their seat and I would deliver beer to their section. My Twitter tag is @Msbeervendor.”
While it’s a demanding gig, Zelko said he truly has a great time working the games with his colleagues, even though they all “seem like Simpsons characters in so many ways.”
KIRO Radio’s Zak Burns contributed to this report.
