The University of Notre Dame is considering outsourcing concession currently performed by volunteers of non-profit organizations.
In exchange for working the stands, non-profits receive 15 percent of the money collected.
“They did send a letter out late last year asking the not for profits to send a letter in and let them know what we think of our experience, what we’ve used the money we’ve generated for,” said Pastor Greg Fiechtner of St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Fiechtner has worked the stands at football and basketball games for the last 14 years.
“We had one year out in the concourse selling pizza and then we ended up in stand number 11 here. I remember the USC football game from a few years back. The neatest basketball is when ND was playing Michigan in the NIT we had dueling pep bands it really rumbled here,” said Fiechtner.
Since the church began staffing the stand it has brought in extra money for projects at the church.
“Our main budget doesn’t depend on this, but we’ve been able to do a lot of extra things that were good, so it would be unfortunate,” said Fiechtner.
Some organizations are more reliant on the revenue from concessions. Pet Refuge, which began staffing concession stand 9 three years ago, gets a majority of its funding from the stand.
“This is a guild project and I would say this is probably over 50 percent of our revenue. The guild donated money towards our new clinic that we’re going to open in June. If they wouldn’t have done that we wouldn’t be opening in June,” said Pam Comer with Pet Refuge.
Despite the potential impact the loss of revenue would have on their organizations, both St. Paul and Pet Refuge said they have confidence in Notre Dame.
“I’m sure that they’ll make the right choice,” said Comer.
Notre Dame is expected to make a decision on how it will staff concessions for the 2011-2012 athletic seasons in March.
University spokesperson Dennis Brown declined an interview, but said the school periodically reviews business operations and it is now reviewing its concessions.
Source:http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/Notre_Dame_considers_outsourcing_concession_work_done_by_non-profits_115691239.html
