Okay, so there is no sex involved, but I thought it would help bring you in and really help the retweets. :-)
There has been a lot of hoopla about the opening of Werner Park in Papillion and how it relates to local beer. We have been following the story and posting news as it came available. I have also been interviewing people and researching the topic to get all sides and understand the situation before I commented on it and voiced my opinion. This seems to be a very polarizing topic. Some feel that if you want in a stadium to sell your product, pony up the ad dollars and get in there. Some feel that a ballpark located mere yards from a locally produced beers door should support that small business and the local flavor of the area.
There isn't an easy answer to this because it is so complex. Yes, ideally, a company that pays for advertising should get in the park. I don't think anyone would argue that. I don't think anyone is arguing that. Where the problem lies is that this is beer. Why is that a problem? Well, beer is a big guy verse the little guy, and the guy with the most money wins or tries to "cheat" or manipulate the rules to win because they can. This happens in all forms of business but because of the structure of beer and distribution and the scale being so heavily tilted in one direction it makes it especially sensitive to those craft beer fans and craft beer owners out there. It is a constant up hill battle that is hard to win.
Let's examine the timeline of this story. We start back when talks were taking place about building a new stadium for the then Royals. Lucky Bucket was aware of where they were going to build the park and really wanted to get in because of the local aspect of it and the location of the new park. They proceeded to advertise, even though the budget did not allow it, at Rosenblatt so their beers could be served there and so they could form that relationship. The verbal understanding was that they would then continue serving when the Royals/Storm Chasers moved. (EDIT: Lucky Bucket has offered to advertise at the new park to get in and have been shut down)(EDIT#2: Preimier asked the Storm Chasers if they could serve Lucky Bucket and were told no)
As sponsorships and contracts are being created at Werner park, Quality Brands and Ovation catering sign on in the deal. Well, Quality Brands does not distribute Lucky Bucket and Ovation doesn't believe the product will sell, so they push most beers out that Premier distributes because of their sponsorship deal. While an exclusive contract in a venue is illegal in the state of Nebraska, Quality Brands and Werner Park get around this deal by allowing Premier some space. Premier is not dumb, you sell what will sell the best if you have limited space and unfortunately that is still Coors and Miller. So that is all they have there. I can only assume they were not given many spaces for their product, but I am assuming. This is the same kind of behavior that occurs on the store shelves across the US, big beer pushing out the small guy with aggressive tactics that are legal most of the time. Go rent Beer Wars, it is eye opening.
So here we are, only one local(Nebraska beer) being served at Werner Park. This still doesn't address the point that often gets made, why doesn't Lucky Bucket or whomever, Upstream, Nebraska Brewing Company, etc. advertise at the stadium. Well, they could, but the costs are prohibitive and I would guess admittedly the sales would not be reflected. So why are they in an uproar if the sales won't be great? This is where the issue is for me. It is not about sales figures. This isn't Lucky Bucket raising a stink, is Zac upset about not serving his beer a 3-wood away, I am sure he is but he isn't going to make a ton of money serving it at the stadium. This is about serving a local small business product. Martie from Werner Park has talked about how they have local companies, ConAgra, Blue Bunny, Omaha Steaks represented. While that is true, that doesn't give much support to the small local businesses of Papillion/La Vista. They claim to be all about the community and being local, truly local is supporting the small businesses as well as the ones that line the pockets and make the park work. Those big dogs are important and vital to making the stadium run and keeping the Storm Chasers there, I get that completely. It would show great support of your community if they were to reach out to small businesses that truly will put fans in those seats. It is what being a community partner is all about.
Let Premier throw a couple cases of truly local beer in their truck on the way to the park. It will sell, contrary to what has been said. Lucky Bucket, for example, is the largest selling Nebraska made beer in Nebraska, so it sells. As a Nebraska craft beer blog we are jumping up and down excited that Schilling Bridge is going to be served there. That is a huge win for them for sure!! Lets take that victory and share more Nebraska craft beer with the visitors to Werner Park. The fans of the beer deserve it and the fans of the Storm Chasers deserve it.
I am going to end this by saying that this has been 100% fan driven, which should drive the point home further. I have spoken with brewers and everyone has said this was not started by them because they understand how their business works. It has started with fans of Lucky Bucket upset that they couldn't get their beer at the games and it has went from there. So as fans, keep up the pressure. This is a huge uphill battle and the people that make decisions need to know that if you want to have a beer from Upstream, Lucky Bucket or a Nebraska Brewing Company at the park and it is worth their time to take that risk to serve it there. Parks all over the country are getting this message, as well as bars and liquor stores. While AB-Inbev and MillerCoors lose market share, craft beer is continuing to grow, the numbers cannot be argued.
www.facebook.com/nebraskabeerblog
http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-want-Lucky-Bucket-at-Werner-Park/33443297106
20 comments:
Empyrean Brewing in Lincoln is the largest brewery in Nebraska according to beer taxes paid to the State of Nebraska by over 1000 barrels in 2010.
Not according to the Harris numbers.
http://theweeklygrindradio.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/2010-harris-numbers.pdf
Admittedly, I am not sure why the difference in the two. The point is, Lucky Bucket sells as does Empyrean.
Lazlo's and Fireworks volume is also made by Empyrean. Those locations buy the beer from Empyrean. Empyrean Brewing made over 5200 barrels last year. You need to look at both Lazlo's Inc volume and Harris sales. Yes, both do sell well.
Would it be safe to say that Lucky Bucket is the largest Nebraska based wholesale seller of beer in Nebraska then, which is what we are talking about?
Your article was very clear and the numbers back it up. Lucky Bucket sells more beer than Empyrean in Nebraska. Empyrean produces more but also has a larger distribution footprint than Lucky Bucket.
Yes, Lucky Bucket sold more Nebraska distributor beer in Nebraska in 2010. According to YTD 2011 Empyrean sold more through Nebraska distributors. I really doesn't matter but both sell a lot beer. I work for a wholesaler that sells both brands. I have seen a slow down in Lucky Bucket in 2011.
Apparently this has turned into a dick measuring contest. Now your article has sex!
LOL, that is funny. I will add and, I edited the post, that Lucky Bucket has offered to advertise at the stadium but have been denied entry. So this is further a squeeze. Enough of who sells more, again, not the point of the story for sure. I love Empyrean, Lucky Bucket and all Nebraska Craft beers, hence why I started the blog.
One more update added, Premier has tried to get Lucky Bucket in the park and the Storm Chasers said no.
How is this fan driven if the park hasn't opened yet? Did someone from Lucky Bucket spread the word. If anyone has any information how this spread I would like to know. Who is the source that started all this?
It's amazing the amount of babble that comes from this site that is not fact based and is untrue. The most important issue here is that Nebraska makes great beer. These beers are readily avaialable, but not in every venue we would like. I work for a distributor that carries all of the local breweries except for Schilling. We have a 2 sports arenas in our market that carry local beer. Do you how they got into the venue, they paid to just like the other suppliers. Like it or not that is how the game is played. Would we like to have more craft and local craft beers in these establishments, absolutely, but that costs money. Don't get me started on the amount of bars and restaraunts that won't carry their local breweries because they view them as competitors because they are a brew pub. If we as consumers better supported our local breweries in all nof our on premise accounts and demanded them in places where they are not, then getting these beers into contract paid venues would be easier.
This is the same site that posted that Weyerbacher, North Coast, and Lakefront were leaving the state. I am the one that brought these brands into the state and would be the first one to know if they were leaving. Posting this mis information caused me to receive numerous calls from accounts and made these breweries very upset. I have other breweies coming in the near future and have others that our consumers want that I have been working on for over 5 years, posting that brands are leaving does not help my effort it hurts it. So please stick to posting issues you know are true, which at this point seems to be a problem.
The facebook page is where I started to hear about it. From there the news media were called and I contacted the park. I am not responsible for the facebook page at all.
If this site is full of babble, don't read it. We are here to promote craft beer in this state and that is what we are trying to do. I am a fan, that is it. This story started breaking early in the week. I didn't post anything until I got the facts straight. You tell me what is incorrect, other then maybe my opinion, about this story. Opinions are just that. Did you challenge the KETV story that came out before mine?
As for the weyerbacher, etc. story, I admit jumping the gun on this one and vowed to myself to not do it again for the reasons you mentioned. I am sorry I made more work for you. This site has done a lot of positive things for the craft beer scene in Nebraska, I know this just from talking to the brewers here and elsewhere.
I am sorry you find so much fault in what we do. We come from an honest place on this blog and write it with the intention of improving things in the state. We make mistakes but our intentions are as pure as they can be, great beer.
I find it very unfortunate you are not willing to use your name. I am sure it is for work reasons but my email address works, drop me a line. Your knowledge would be beneficial to craft beer lovers in state. We want to be on the same team and work toward the same goal.
I also work for a local distributor and feel the same as the post above.
The problem is that your blog sends out information that gets to the public. That in turn makes it individuals in the beer industry jobs difficult. I want to ask what is the purpose of your blog? To inform people of events and promotions or your opinions or rumors. What makes you an expert on craft beer? Do you homebrew and like good beer? Have you ever worked in this industry as a brewery rep or distributor rep? I like history but that doesn't make me a historian or an expert. If you have no experience in a brewery or distribution network you opinions have little value. You can have opinions but so can everyone else. Your blog has turned into a rumor mill and I believe you should rethink the purpose of it. But that is my opinion and if you can have one so can I. I will contact you directly soon. I have relationships with others in the industry and they feel the same way about how a lot of rumors and news have been reported by multiple media outlets and social media.
I am sorry you guys feel the way you do but you are wrong on some many levels. Other than this Werner park story, no opinions have been posted in the last month of posts at least, I didn't go back any further. So this hasn't become a rumor mill. I will continue to offer my opinions when I think that a story needs it or I want to. If I am creating work for you, that is a good thing in my opinion. It means that people are paying attention and are concerned about craft beer. If you see it differently and can't spin the chatter in your favor, well, I can't help you. We are here to shine a light on craft beer and the passionate fans we have in this state because as a state, we are not on the lips of people around the country and we need to be.
As for my knowledge of the industry. Yes, I have brewed for nearly 17 years or so. I have never worked in the industry but that does not matter. I got all my info from people in the industry, or I have researched it. You have yet to tell me what is rumor on this post. I will gladly make corrections and have not only in this posts but others. I researched this and formed my own opinion. Werner Park and the Storm Chasers have chose NOT to carry Lucky Bucket. They have been asked to carry it and Lucky Bucket has asked what they can do to get in the park, and they can't. Premier has worked hard for Zac and Lucky Bucket but they were shut out and that is an unfortunate thing and result of our 3-tier system in my opinion.
Again, both of you guys "in the industry" need to let us know what you know and correct us if we are wrong. I look for info all the time. This blog will continue to be a primary place for Craft Beer news and events and sometimes news will be followed by my opinion. It will not be the primary focus of the blog, and it has never been, but sometimes I feel like getting my thoughts out there, that is a blog. It is no different then an editorial page.
Thanks for reading and caring. I hope we are on the same page in promoting craft beer in Nebraska.
The "babble" you industry folks are complaining about (i.e. breweries leaving) was from another blog, written by someone in the "industry". This site made no speculation on the matter. http://nebraskabeer.blogspot.com/2011/01/loss-of-craft-beer-brands-in-nebraska.html
Blog about my industry, you would be white noise though because it is one of the most ridiculed industries in the US if not the world, I sell insurance. Next to an attorney, we are the butt of many a joke. I have thick skin man and my day is constantly about changing perception of things that are written. Go for it. :-)
I admitted being wrong on the speculation of the beer issues earlier in the year, a number of posts ago. This Werner story was all out there before I started posting anything. I found out about it, got a comment from Werner Park, posted news story from KETV and posted a public response from Zac. I provided links to information that was already available and gave the parties involved a platform to express themselves. That seems very responsible to me. Yes, I threw in my opinion in the end, I don't think it is right that a local company, beer or otherwise can't get in a place they want to be.
Yes, the 3-tier system has it's benefits that you mentioned. I would agree with all those and I understand all those. The financial outlay that a brewery would have to have to go it on their own would be tough. The behavior that big breweries pull though is deplorable and an uphill battle.
I have a family and I work a lot as well. This is that important to me that we continue to get great beer options in Nebraska and make this a better beer climate. My passion can get misplaced and in an effort to make things better I can make mistakes. The only mistake I see I made here is making this appear like a Lucky Bucket issue when I see it as a small business issue, which I run. I am a small business horn blower and will always scream loud and high for the little guy. That is what this story is all about. The little guy got the squeeze and it stinks.
Thanks for your understanding and debate. A healthy debate leads to healthy solutions. I will definitely post more carefully in the future. I can't say you won't ever see my opinion, because you will. I will just work to make sure I cover as many of the basis I can. I would gladly ride along with someone, but I doubt I would get an invite. LOL
Like Nate, I'm also very passionate about craft beer. Even more so about Nebraska craft beer.
When we hear that it's being threatened, it's “all hands on deck.” We will do our part to report the facts the best we can, and then let the discussion begin. We are not professional news writers by any means. We are only end users, and creators, of craft beer. As such, we want growth and change. Not more of the norm, where large breweries with huge advertising budgets dictate what Americans should drink.
Sometimes our opinions stir the pot. This is definitely an example of that. However, like Nate said, this is a good thing. We need to hear every side of the story. And I’m glad we are hearing from the distributors now.
I invite anyone, especially those that do not always agree with us, to “comment it out” on the blog or face-to-face. We will have a booth at the Omaha Beer Fest in May. Please stop by and talk to us. We all share in the joys of craft beer…that’s why the blog exists.
Yes rent Beer Wars.
Sports in the past few decades a catered to the Corporate Set. The Sports industry doesn't care about Joe Schmo.
Let them fill the stadium will dollars and not people.Think of the repercussions. Yeah, that will get the team motivated. Clapping dollars, that's the ticket. Society in more interested in money not people these days.
Chasing dollars is the Swan song for any endeavor. Those who do get bigger for awhile but eventually, there will be no more to gain and will fall and fall hard. The losers in this game will be the ballpark/club and the average guy.
For the Small people and business. Remember the old adage "It is not the dollars that hurt you is is the cents. We might not have the Dollars but we have the cents. It those cents that add up and will make or break you.
In a hard economy people are looking for value and quality for what little they have to spend for leisure's, such has ballgames.
What good is it to spend a good portion of a paycheck to see a game. When you are force to pay high prices for mediocrity.
The Craft lovers are a small segment of that equation. They are going and will come a day where decision makers will have to listen to our voices.
Post a Comment