If you find yourself hungry at an Alabama basketball game, good luck. It will probably be hard to chew since your jaw will have dropped after glancing at the prices inside Coleman Coliseum.

Before tipoff and at halftime, you’ll test your patience wading through long lines of fellow hungry customers before the items on the menu test your bank account, with many individual items costing more than $15 apiece, including a single cheeseburger with no sides or toppings for a whopping $15.94 after tax.

When compared to similar items for venues at Auburn University, University of Georgia, University of Notre Dame, University of Virginia and even pro teams like the Tennessee Titans, the Tide numbers stand out. For instance, a souvenir soda at Alabama games costs $9.99 (same price as a premium beer), while the same product costs $6.25 at Auburn, $7 at Virginia and $4 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. And that’s just soda. As the numbers below will tell you, Alabama game prices generally tower over the others.

RELATED: Alabama athletics hits revenue record, outpaces SEC peers

A $16 burger?!

The most expensive entrée at an Alabama game is the chicken and cheese quesadilla, coming in at a whopping $15.49. But it isn’t the only food item that can break the bank. Most classic entrées at Coleman Coliseum run about $15, including the quesadilla, chicken tenders, buffalo chicken nachos and much more.

Among those items is the classic cheeseburger — a standard, no-frills burger that runs $14.49 and doesn’t come with fries. With that price tag — and the lack of a side, it might just be the most expensive burger in Tuscaloosa.

The data below paint a clear picture of the money fans will have spend if they want to eat at Alabama basketball games. (Note: The pricing is similar at Alabama football games, but all prices below were recorded inside Coleman Coliseum during the 2022-23 men’s basketball season.)

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It costs more than the double cheeseburger at Five restaurant, and that burger comes with fries. It costs more than the most expensive options at places like Hooligans and Five Guys. The plain cheeseburger at Alabama’s concessions stands costs more than even Rama Jama’s National Champ Burger — which comes with 18 ounces of beef to celebrate the Alabama Crimson Tide football team’s 18 claimed national titles. Avenue Pub has one of the only burgers that costs more than one at an Alabama game, but it’s a bacon burger with a choice of side for $18. Same for Chez Fonfon in Birmingham, whose burger (with fries) also costs $18. I’ll let you choose which burger you’d rather pay for.

And the entrées at the game aren’t the only items with extremely high price tags. Concessions prices are always high — it’s something sports fans are used to. But the prices at Coleman are something else. Just compare to Alabama’s closest in-state rival, Auburn.

Alabama concessions prices can be as much as double those at Auburn for similar items. Take the cheeseburger, for example. You can get a cheeseburger at Auburn for just $7, compared to Alabama’s $14.49.

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Prices by the party

And those higher prices only compound the more people you take to the game. It may seem obvious – more people, more food, higher prices. But it’s when you look at these group prices that the differences start to really stand out.

Say, for instance, you wanted to take your whole family to a game. Everyone wants a souvenir soda, an entrée, candy and — of course — a ticket. With Alabama’s inflated food pricing, it would be cheaper to take a family of five to an Auburn game than it would be to take a family of four to an Alabama game.

[Can’t see the chart? Click here.]

What if you took a date or went on a family outing to an Alabama basketball game ($30-$35 per ticket via rolltide.com, average of $32.50) and wanted to share a meal in Coleman Coliseum? If each person in your party had a souvenir soda ($9.99), a cheeseburger/chicken tenders/Dreamland nachos ($14.49) and a box of candy ($5.49), here is the combined cost (pre-tax) per each scenario.

This doesn’t even account for mom or dad wanting a beer ($8.99 or $9.99).

No secret

Expensive concession food and drink prices are certainly no secret to fans worldwide. A Fox Business report sourcing Plutino said in 2020 NFL teams generated about $1 million to $2 million in concessions sales on a game day.

From souvenir sodas to high-priced entrées like chicken fingers and barbecue nachos, why is food so expensive at sporting events? Why would venues charge fans $15 for a cheeseburger? Well, because they can.

“The NFL charges exorbitant prices because it has a captive audience,” Chris Hartweg, CEO and publisher of Team Marketing Report, told USA Today in 2022. “So they decide to price-gouge.”

That report said the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers’ new SoFi Stadium had the most expensive hot dogs and beer in the NFL in 2021, charging $8 for a hot dog and 92 cents per ounce for beer during the regular season, tied for most expensive in the NFL.

Some stadiums, like Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, have lowered concession prices in an effort to enhance the overall fan experience. The home stadium for the Atlanta Falcons also hosts events like the SEC Championship, Peach Bowl and other neutral-site games Alabama fans have attended. USA Today reports Arthur Blank, owner of the Falcons and co-founder of Home Depot, set the prices for concessions when the $1.5 billion stadium opened in 2017.

But it isn’t just intentional “fan-first” pricing stadiums like Atlanta that Alabama’s prices exceed.

Tide concessions

UA announced in 2018 that Levy Restaurants would serve as the their concessions and merchandise partners for their athletic program across the Tuscaloosa campus, selling products at Coleman Coliseum and Bryant Denny Stadium.

Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne tweeted in 2022 that UA’s concessionaire pays the city of Tuscaloosa 10% sales tax on concession revenue from all athletics events, generating approximately $125,000 annually. The UA athletics department also pays a 10% sales tax on all ticket sales, with 3% going to the city, creating an estimated revenue of $1.3 million, according to The Crimson White.

The school reported a record $214.4 million in revenue for the first fiscal year after the main impact of the global pandemic rocked the collegiate athletics world. Spending also increased past pre-pandemic levels but the athletics department still finished the fiscal year with a profit of $18.5 million, according to the financial report filed to the NCAA and obtained by AL.com through a public records request. That surplus is earmarked to finance existing debt for completed construction projects, an Alabama spokesperson said.

In response to AL.com’s questions about the cost of concessions — including how they set the prices, whether or not inflation impacts that and how the revenue is split — the UA athletics department shared the following statement:

“The University puts a premium on providing a world-class fan experience and is constantly assessing ways to enhance the services provided. At present, Levy operates concessions at UA’s athletic events through an agreement with Crimson Tide Sports Marketing. Levy sets concession pricing based off concession offerings, product/overhead costs and market pricing. These numbers are shared with Crimson Tide Sports Marketing and Alabama Athletics for annual approvals. Despite inflation’s impact on sports and entertainment venues across the country, a concerted effort is made to avoid annual price increases on concessions. The concessions revenue is ultimately split amongst Levy, CTSM and UA Athletics.”

How does it compare?

Below are some common concession items and a few price comparisons. In each case, Alabama’s product is more expensive, sometimes double the cost of other venues.

CHEESBURGER ($14.49 pre-tax; $15.94 with tax)

The cheeseburger, which you can purchase from the “Grab Food” station at the Crimson Grill concession areas, ranks as one of the most expensive items on the menu at $14.49 before tax ($15.94 with tax). For nearly $16, you get a cheeseburger wrapped in foil. No fries, lettuce, tomato — a burger and cheese inside a bun, in a foil container.

Auburn: $7

Mercedes-Benz Stadium: $5

Five’s Double Cheeseburger (with fries): $12

Hooligans: Cheeseburger $6.05, bacon cheeseburger $6.60, double cheeseburger $7.70.

Avenue Pub: Bacon Burger $18 (with fries).

Chez Fonfon in Birmingham: Hamburger Fonfon comté (with fries), $18.

Rama Jama’s: National Champ Burger, 18 ounces of beef (in honor of the Crimson Tide’s 18 national championships), $12.99.

Five Guys: $11.19

McDonald’s: A Big Mac costs $4.89, a Quarter Pounder $4.99 and a Double Quarter Pounder $6.59, so you could purchase at least two of each before equaling the total price of the Alabama cheeseburger.

CHICKEN TENDERS ($14.49)

Auburn: Chicken tenders and fries, $8

Virginia: Chicken tender basket, $10

Mercedes-Benz Stadium: $6

Slim Chickens: Hungry Meal (7 tenders with fries and drink), $12.99

Guthrie’s: Box (Chicken fingers, fries, toast, cole slaw), $10.45

Zaxby’s: Chicken finger plate (6 tenders with fries and slaw), $12.49

PRETZEL (giant, $13.99; regular $6.99)

You probably spotted the giant German pretzel inside Bryant-Denny Stadium at Alabama football games in 2022. A new item last season, it’s a product of the World of Beer restaurant chain, and you’ll get it even cheaper if you go to the actual eatery in downtown Tuscaloosa. But even beyond the larger pretzel, Alabama’s regular version is still more expensive than the other venues. It’ll also cost you $3-plus for a cup of cheese on the side.

World of Beer restaurant (2107 University Blvd.): Same product for $9.95 (+$2.95 for beer cheese)

Auburn: Regular, $5; Jumbo, $8 (cheese cup, $1)

Notre Dame: Shamrock pretzel, $6 (cheese cup, $2)

Virginia: $5

Mercedes-Benz Stadium: $2

SOUVENIR SODA ($9.99)

Auburn: $6.25

Virginia: Souvenir Soda $7; Bottomless Souvenir Soda, $10

Mercedes-Benz Stadium: $4

Tennessee Titans: $6.50-$9.50

NACHOS (Buffalo chicken nachos $14.49; Dreamland nachos $14.49; Beer Cheese Nachos $9.99; Nachos $7.99)

You’ll find variations on “nachos” at Coleman, but we’re comparing standard nachos with cheese unless otherwise noted.

Auburn: $5

Notre Dame: $5.50

Virginia: Nachos, $5; BBQ Nachos, $8

Mercedes-Benz Stadium: Cheese nachos $3, BBQ Nachos $10

HOT DOG ($5.99)

Auburn: $4

Georgia: $2.50

Notre Dame: $5

Virginia: $4

Mercedes-Benz Stadium: Classic hot dog, $2; Vegan dog, $3, Chili Cheese Dog, $5

Tennessee Titans: $3.50-$6.50

CANDY ($5.49)

Auburn: $3

Georgia: $2

Notre Dame: $4

Virginia: $3

Mercedes-Benz Stadium: $3.50

Tennessee Titans: $3.50-$5.50

POPCORN (Regular, $6.99; Souvenir, $14.99)

Auburn: $4

Georgia: $2

Notre Dame: $4

Virginia: $5

Mercedes-Benz Stadium: $2

Full Menu

Below is the full 2022-23 Coleman Coliseum concession stand menu, organized by highest price to lowest (in alphabetical order).

ALABAMA BASKETBALL CONCESSIONS, pre-tax (Coleman Coliseum via Levy Restaurants)

Chicken and cheese quesadilla $15.49 (most expensive item)

Souvenir Popcorn $14.99

Buffalo Chicken Fries $14.49

Buffalo chicken nachos $14.49

Cheeseburger $14.49

Chicken fries and chicken bites each $14.49

Chicken tenders $14.49

Chubbfathers Chicken Bites with Fries $14.49

Crimson Chicken Tenders $14.49

Dixieland Chicken Cheese Fries $14.49

Dreamland nachos $14.49

Conecuh nachos $13.99

Giant German Pretzel $13.99

Sloppy Nachos $13.99

Famous Dixieland Funnel Cakes $12.49

Chili Cheese Fries $11.99

Cheese fries $10.99

Beer Cheese Nachos $9.99

Souvenir soda $9.99

Conecuh Sausage (with Nate Dog Sauce) $7.99

Nachos $7.99

Dippin Dots $7.49

Cotton Candy $6.99

Popcorn $6.99

Pretzel $6.99

Hot dog $5.99

Bottled soda $5.99

Candy $5.49

Texas Roadhouse Roasted Peanuts $4.99

Bottled water $4.49

Side of cheese $3.99 (nachos; Fan Favorites stand)

Side of Beer Cheese $3.49

UTZ Chips $2.99

RITA’S FROZEN DRINKS

Frozen Drink $8.99

Misto Shake $8.99

Large Ice $8.49

Small Ice $6.99

Custard Sandwich $6.99

ALCOHOL

Domestic beer $8.99

Premium beer $9.99

Wine $9.99

Seltzer $9.99

AUBURN CONCESSIONS (Auburn Arena)

Note: Auburn’s was the only online concession menu listing prices we could find among SEC teams; a partial Georgia menu can be found.

CORE CONCESSIONS

Souvenir soda $6.25

Small soda $4.25

Powerade $5.25

Smart Water $6

Dasani water $2

Hot dog $4

Cheeseburger $7

Chicken tenders & fries $8

Conecuh sausage $7

Fries $4

Nachos $5

Pretzel $5

Cheese cup $1

Popcorn bucket $4

Golden Flake chips $3

Candy $3

AUBIE CHOW

Pizza $8

Combo #1: Pizza + Souvenir soda $14

Combo #2: Chicken tenders + Fries + Souvenir soda $14

Combo #3: Cheeseburger + Fries $11

HALF COURT CAFE

All Core Concessions

Pizza $8

Combo #1: Pizza + Souvenir soda $14

Combo #2: Chicken tenders + Fries + Souvenir soda $14

Combo #3: Cheeseburger + Fries $11

HALL OF HONOR

All Core Concessions

Combo #1: Chicken tenders + Fries + Souvenir soda $14

Combo #2: Cheeseburger + Fries $11

Combo #3: Hot dog + Fries $8

ALL AMERICAN

Souvenir soda $6.25

Small soda $4.25

Powerade $5.25

Smart Water $6

Dasani water $2

Hot dog $4

Nachos $5

Pretzel $5

Cheese cup $1

Popcorn bucket $4

Golden Flake chips $3

Candy $3

CHICK-FIL-A

Chicken sandwich $7

Waffle chips $3

Cookie $3

Souvenir soda $6.25

Small soda $4.25

Powerade $5.25

Smart Water $6

Dasani Water $2

(Note: Chick-fil-A is not open for Sunday games)

BEN’S PRETZELS

Jumbo Pretzel $8

Buggy Bites $9

Cheddar or Nacho Dip $1

TIGER TREATS

Cotton Candy $5

Sno Cones $5

Frozen Lemonade $6

Bottled Soda $4.25

MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM (Atlanta Falcons, SEC Championship, Peach Bowl, Neutral-site games)

Fan-first pricing

Website

BBQ Nachos $10

Bacon Cheeseburger $7

Dippin’ Dots $6.75

Grilled Chicken Sandwich $6

Chicken tenders, french fries $6

Frozen Lemonade $5.50

Chili Cheese Dog $5

Classic Cheeseburger $5

Souvenir Soda $4

Candy $3.50

Chips $3.50

Bottled Water $3

Coffee $3

French Fries $3

Hot Chocolate $3

Vegan Dog $3

Cheese Nachos $3

Classic Hot Dog $2

Super Pretzel $2

Fresh Popped Popcorn $2

Regular Soda $2

Large Premium Draft Beer $10

Large Domestic Draft Beer $8

Small Premium Draft Beer $6

Small Domestic Draft Beer $5