 |  |
Enderson Cashes in at Fishercats Games
KEENE, N.H. 7/26/11 – Brianna Enderson knows it’s all about the numbers.
Looking to move up in Keene State College’s cross country pack this fall, the sophomore from Manchester, who ran for former Owl great Kurt Schultz at Memorial High School, hopes to make a significant cut in her 5K time and crack the varsity line-up this year.
Enderson’s job this summer is also about numbers, as in dollars and cents. When Enderson isn’t running around her neighborhood getting ready for the season, she’s behind the register at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, helping hungry Fisher Cat fans get though the busy concession line without missing the action on the field. “It’s an awesome job,” said Enderson. “I love sports and you get to see the games for free.”
Before heading to the stadium for a recent Cats game, the elementary education major provided us with some frank facts about condiment cuisine.
According to Enderson, the biggest seller at the Stadium is the jumbo hot dogs, which go for $3.50. Hamburgers are $4.75 and for an extra 25 cents they’ll slap a piece of cheese on top for a cheeseburger. Pretzels drenched in salt (so you’ll have to purchase a drink) are $2.75, the gooey nachos are priced at $3, and a large popcorn will set you back $4.
What would a game be without a beer? A cup of the suds goes for $5.75, but you better get in line before the seventh inning, when the tap is shut off. “Some people complain, so I send them over to the bar and grill, where they serve beer the rest of the game,” said Enderson.
Enderson does have a few menu suggestions for Advantage Food and Beverage, the firm that runs the Fisher Cats concessions. “Since we’re in New England, a bowl of clam chowder or a lobster roll would be nice,” she said.
Unlike the players, Enderson has a pretty easy pre-game schedule. She typically arrives an hour and a half before game time, sprucing up the stand and carefully counting her money in the register.
Enderson works well under pressure, doling out change like a veteran. She has yet to make an error in 53 home games for Eastern league leaders. Enderson keeps her nose in the game. Transactions are done quickly with little conversation. “For the most part, people are nice, but some are rude,” said Enderson. “They make you feel like you’re incompetent and don’t know what you’re doing.”
Like a pitcher who just surrendered a home run, Enderson has the perfect temperament for the job, shaking off disparaging remarks and moving on to the next customer.
Besides seeing the game for free, there are other perks to the job. Enderson isn’t bashful about saying hi to the players who walk by her stand. A couple of the guys are nice looking, she reports, but she is diplomatic and refuses to pick a favorite.
She also gets free drinks during the game and gets a doggy bag to bring home if there’s leftover food. Nothing beats a late-night snack like some chicken tenders or a fried chicken combo.
If her dad Bob is taking in a game, he’s entitled to a couple of drinks on the house. But just one beer; after all rules are the rules.
There’s no substitute for winning. Enderson says fans tend to buy more when the team is winning or when they are stuck under the stands during a rain delay.
The Fisher Cats, an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, are averaging 5,299 fans per game this season. They draw their biggest crowds when the Portland Seadogs, the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, are in town. “You definitely see a spike in attendance,” said Enderson. “A lot of the fans come to see the Red Sox prospects.” (Truth be told, both Enderson and her dad are diehard Red Sox fans.)
More fans mean more hotdogs being sold. On a good night, Enderson will ring up over $1,000 in business. Tips are big in the entertainment industry. Enderson keeps a cup by her register for fans who appreciate her skill on the keyboard and her pleasant demeanor. Her cup spilled over with $36 in tips earlier this season against Portland.
Although Enderson has never been to the big leagues, a.k.a. Fenway Park, she has scouted the competition, working the stands for a Taylor Swift concert at Gillette Stadium. Enderson, a concession connoisseur, said the food is on the par with Delta Dental Stadium, but gives a slight edge to Gillette for having Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.
With the season winding down, Enderson knows her days behind the register will soon end. If her schedule permits, she hopes to return in the fall for some playoff games.
Enderson spent last week working at Keene State’s cross country camp, run by Coach Peter Thomas. Catching up with several of her teammates, Enderson said she was pleased with her summer workouts and felt her times measured up with many of the runners she will be going up against this fall.
Once again it will come down to the numbers.
