Yankee Stadium seat waiters sue team over 20 percent service charge
May 10, 2011, 1:36 PM EDT
So when they deliver those $9.50 beers and $8.50 hot dogs to to your seat at Yankee Stadium, they also levy a 20 percent service charge. But where does that extra 20 percent go? Not to the servers; they only get to keep tips in excess of that 20 percent. So three of them are suing, being that they’re the ones, you know, providing the actual service.
Plaintiffs Evelyn Ryan, David Carr and Tujuan Garner say they don’t even get a taste of the mandatory mark-up that concessionaire Legends Hospitality — partly owned by the Bronx Bombers — adds for delivery of its $9.50 beers and $8.50 hot dogs.
“It’s nerve-racking, because people would question if we get the 20 percent,” said Ryan, 36, of Washington Heights.
“All we’re allowed to say is, ‘Additional gratuity is at your discretion.’ They wonder where it’s going if it’s not going to you.”
Defendants include both Legends — which was founded in advance of the 2009 opening of the new Yankee Stadium — and former concessionaire Centerplate.
A Legends spokeswoman said, “All of our employees are paid properly and in accordance with their union contract.”
Centerplate declined to comment.
It does seem a bit odd to levy a 20 percent service charge and then not give any of it to the actual servers. Although I guess Legends could say that by one of their servers making a round trip to your seat, that’s time they could be spending in the restaurant taking more orders. Which costs the restaurant extra. Look, work with me here; I’m trying to understand.
This is much different than at Citizens Bank Park, where you can be pelted with your choice of nacho containers, peanut shells or beer bottles from the fourth inning on with no service fee. And if the Phillies are losing or you’re wearing the opposing team’s hat, the bottles will be three-quarters full at no extra charge.
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Yankee Stadium servers sue over tips [New York Post]
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- tubal22 - May 10, 2011 at 9:33 PM
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Maybe the 20% goes to paying the servers their actual hourly wage.
I don’t agree with $9.50 beers, but I assume it’s $9.50 whether you buy it in the stands or in the concession area. By the beer coming to you, it’s an extra service, thus the service charge.
Same idea as paying an extra $2.50 for having a pizza delivered. That doesn’t go to the delivery boy.
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- theref55 - May 12, 2011 at 10:15 AM
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“This is much different than at Citizens Bank Park, where you can be pelted with your choice of nacho containers, peanut shells or beer bottles from the fourth inning on with no service fee. And if the Phillies are losing or you’re wearing the opposing team’s hat, the bottles will be three-quarters full at no extra charge.”…………….
— This is such BS from another uneducated reporter who probably never stepped into Citizens Bank Park. Hey – you forgot the “4 decade old” Santa reference as well. I guess you ran out of space to put that in. Go BLEEP Yourself. We have great fans here who are pationate and loyal.
BTW – since things (according to your short term memory) “get thrown at you at CBP” – why dont you ask Mrs. Cliff Lee how those mustard packs thrown at her at Yankees Stadium last fall during the ALCS was the REAL reason why Cliff is not in the Bronx in 2011 – while Cliff took LESS MONEY to come back to Philly?
Come back when you leave your mother’s basement and have something intelligent to add – for once.
