The concessions at the FedExForum Monday dampened for some fans what should have been a night of celebrating a Tigers win.
Some Tiger fans complained the concession service at the FedExForum Monday was poor. They said there were not enough vendors open, causing long walks and waits.
"It did take a while for me to get my food," said Jacob Tucker, junior sociology and Spanish major.
Tucker said he went to a restaurant near the student entrance to get food about 15 minutes before Monday's game was scheduled to start. He missed the tip-off because he stood in line for roughly 20 minutes. He said he thought the problem was a lack of workers making the food, which caused shortages in the quantity they could serve.
"They (the cashiers) had to wait on the food," Tucker said, adding that it felt as though "every five minutes, they would be out of food."
Tucker's problems with Monday's service were reiterated in fan posts on memphistigers.org, a Memphis Tigers fan discussion board.
"It's crap," posted user "Nutbushtiger." "My daughter and niece had not eaten so I had to walk all the way around the Forum to the other side to find some freakin' popcorn and chicken strips."
Bill Lofton, associate director of athletic business and finance at The U of M, said The University received complaints about the concessions Tuesday morning, and The U of M has addressed its unease with the management at the Forum.
"We had people that mentioned it to different staff members last night," Lofton said. He attended Monday's game, and said he noticed long lines in the Club Section of the Forum.
"We've expressed our concern over the lack of concession," he said.
The University of Memphis does not profit from concession sales at FedExForum, thus it does not decide which concession stands are open and which are closed. However, because fans associate the team playing with the service they receive at the arena, people send complaints to The U of M.
The concessions at the Forum are operated by Levy Restaurants, which also operates concessions in dozens of arenas and stadiums in the United States, including Lambeau Field, Wrigley Field, the STAPLES Center and Arrowhead Stadium.
Lou Aurelio, assistant director of operations for Levy Restaurants at the Forum, said, "We have business as usual this evening," when asked about customer complaints about Monday night's service. He said they had received e-mails, but he could not comment on them because of company policy.
"We have a media lockup," Aurelio said, reaffirming the no comment policy.
However, Lofton said by voicing its concerns, The University is attempting to solve the problem.
"We've taken a proactive role in trying to improve the situation," Lofton said. "Hopefully, it will be better (Tuesday night)."
