Comparing draft Budweisers at large, local live music venues
When you're seeing a show at a big music venue like, say, the 1st Mariner Arena, a draft Budweiser is going to cost you a chunk of change.
But what's the difference in price and size between 1st Mariner Arena, Merriweather Post Pavilion and the Verizon Center?
Funny you should ask, because I found out ...
Merriweather Post Pavilion: A 24-ounce draft Bud will run you $8 at the wooded amphitheater. It's a quarter more than 1st Mariner Arena, but it's also the only even price on our list. The other concession stands will give you back a quarter or two.
1st Mariner Arena: Old arena, contemporary prices: Here, a 24-ounce draft Budweiser costs $7.75, which is about the same as Merriweather.
Verizon Center: A 16-ounce bottle or draft Budweiser costs the same, $7.50, making it the most expensive by far (for the amount of beer you get). That's Washington for you.
(Photo by Getty Images)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Best draft buds for an open air concert are at the Polish Festival in Patterson Park. I don't remember exactly (heh) but they aren't expensive at all. Somewhere in the $4 range.
Posted by: bryanintowson | April 2, 2010 11:27 AM
the 8x10 charges $4.50 for a Boh on show nights. outrageous.
Posted by: Allan | April 2, 2010 11:28 AM
At the Shogun fights at 1st Mariner last Saturday, the16oz cans Coors and Miller Lights were $8. The slighly bigger drafts if you waited in line (looked like only 20oz?) were $8 also.
Posted by: Neighbor | April 2, 2010 11:50 AM
Shameless promotion here. Brewer's Art Pale Ale for $4 for 16 oz at First Thursdays Concerts at the Monument... starting May 6!
Posted by: tomc | April 2, 2010 11:50 AM
I've been to a few Caps games at Verizon Center this year, not sure on the exact beer size, but its more than 16, probably 24
Posted by: Anonymous | April 2, 2010 12:16 PM
I have been pining for a comprehensive list of Budweiser prices at major local venues. Thank you, Sam Sessa! When will you release the list of Miller Lite prices?
Posted by: mww | April 2, 2010 12:26 PM
If you figure most restaurants will charge anywhere from $3.50 to $4 for a 12oz bottle, the cost isn't that much different when you double it up. Unless you go to soul-sucking DC.
Posted by: Tony Ravioli | April 2, 2010 1:39 PM
How wbout a raging bitch lineup. Or Loose Cannon. Who has the cheapest pint?
Posted by: mowerface | April 2, 2010 1:49 PM
Worst ever is Lyric Opera House. Not that you'd expect it to be the best venue for grabbing a tall frosty one, but they charge five bucks to pour about a third of a 12 oz. Budweiser bottle into a small plastic cup. Massive ripoff. I joked to a friend, "I just spilled 50 cents worth of beer" when I was walking back to my seat. At about a dollar an ounce, I wasn't too far off.
Posted by: Patrick | April 2, 2010 2:22 PM
First Mariner needs to check its lines a bit more often. They had some old, dirty beer in those lines.
Posted by: Adam | April 4, 2010 7:23 PM