Short-changed with short pours? New arena beer servings don't measure up for some fans
Wallis Snowdon | CBC News | Posted: October 12, 2016 4:00 PM | Last Updated: October 13, 2016
'At the end of the day, it's about getting what you pay for'
There is a dispute brewing over beer at Rogers Place.
Brad Kwasnycia, an Edmonton Oilers season ticket holder, is accusing the new arena of short-changing patrons with short pours on pricey draft.
"They are using a 20-ounce cup, but they're not filling it to top. The head might be going to the top, but the liquid level is not near what they're advertising on the board," said Kwasnycia in a Wednesday morning interview with CBC Radio's Edmonton AM.
"At the end of the day, it's about getting what you pay for and everyone is entitled to do that if they're going to be paying the prices that they're charging."
Kwasnycia was at last Thursday's preseason game between the Oilers and the Winnipeg Jets with his daughter.
During the first intermission, Kwasnycia sidled up to the concession stand for a hot slice of pizza and a cold one. That's when he started to get suspicious that the beers were not quite as stout as advertised.
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He ordered the standard 20-ounce draft, but says the cup was only filled up to the 16-ounce line.
"I noticed that they hadn't filled it to the top, and I asked the lady politely to please fill it up. Knowing that I'm paying more for a beer, I want to make sure I'm getting everything I'm paying for," said Kwasnycia.
"And she advised me that she is not allowed to fill it to the top of the cup, and even mentioned that she was written up at a prior game for filling it to the top."
Thirsty for an explanation
Kwasnycia says that at the former Rexall Place, he used to pay $8.50 for a 16-ounce of beer. Now, he's paying $11 for the 20-ounce size but says he's only getting 16.
Thirsty for an explanation, he asked to speak with a manager.
"And the manager went ahead and said that. 'No, they only fill to the line.'
"And I questioned her on whether I was getting the full 20 ounces and how do they confirm that, and they pointed to the bottom of the cup where it says 20 ounces."
Frustrated with the response, Kwasnycia took his empty beer cup home after the game to conduct an experiment on video.
Using some measuring cups from his kitchen, he demonstrated how 20 ounces of beer would fill the cup all the way to the brim.
He posted the video to his Facebook page. It has since been viewed more than 110,000 times and amassed nearly 300 comments.
Kwasnycia isn't surprised to see that Edmontonians are keeping a close eye on their suds.
"With the new arena, I think the Oilers have asked a lot of their fans," he said.
"If you're going to ask me to pay more for something, and I choose to step up and pay that price, I want to make sure I'm getting everything I'm paying for."
Aramark, the operator of the concessions at Rogers Place, said it's looking into Kwasnycia's concerns, and provided a statement to CBC News.
"The Rogers Place Food and Beverage team has served approximately 70,000 beers since Rogers Place opened and we have heard very positive feedback overall from our guests," reads the statement.
"While we provide our staff with training to properly pour and serve beer, we take our guests' experience very seriously and will continue to provide our staff with coaching on proper techniques for pouring and serving beer."
The Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission says it's the law that patrons be provided the quantity purchased, but, as of Tuesday, the commission had not received any complaints about Rogers Place beer.
Kwasnycia says arena management has been in contact with him about his concerns, but he remains skeptical that the Rogers Place stunted suds will be up-sized.
"They said they are aware of the issue and are striving to ensure all their staff are pouring properly, going forward," said Kwasnycia.
"But there is still no word on what's going to happen with all the short pours that have happened up to this point or even if they'll be able to monitor … to ensure everyone is getting that full pour that they're entitled to."