Food and Restaurants

Costco lands contract to serve $1.50 hot dogs and $2 pizza at the 2024 League Championship Series

Costco has been named the official food provider for both the American League and National League Championship Series, bringing their famous $1.50 hot dog combo and massive pizza slices to ballparks across the country. And while baseball purists may scoff at the idea, fans are flocking to the concession stands for warehouse-level deals on stadium snacks.

The sight of Costco’s signature blue aprons at the ballparks has been met with a mix of excitement and confusion. Fans, accustomed to paying $15 for a soggy pretzel, are now finding themselves in line for a full meal that costs less than the foam finger they just bought.

Costco Membership Required? Not So Fast

Initial rumors that fans would need a Costco membership to purchase the snacks were quickly debunked. But that didn’t stop some enterprising fans from flashing their membership cards to try and score early access to the lines.

“Some guy ahead of me whipped out his Costco card like it was a backstage pass,” said one Dodgers fan. “I told him, ‘Buddy, we’re all here for the hot dogs—this isn’t the VIP lounge.’ But honestly, I respect the hustle.”

The Pizza Problem Escalates

While the hot dog combo has been a huge hit, the pizza slices have proven to be a logistical nightmare. One Yankees fan attempted to carry three slices back to his seat, only to find out they were roughly the size of outfield tarps.

“I had to make two trips,” he said, balancing a pizza slice under each arm like a linebacker. “And don’t get me started on the cheese—this slice could blanket the infield.”

Concourses have become battlefields of people trying to navigate their oversized snacks. The only thing more impressive than the slices themselves is the sheer determination of fans who insist on carrying them without spilling a drop.

Traditional Vendors Are Not Amused

Meanwhile, the regular ballpark vendors are reeling. Many, who are used to selling $12 hot dogs and $10 nachos, are now competing with Costco’s unbeatable pricing.

“Look, I’ve been here since ’99, and this is the toughest competition I’ve ever faced,” said one long-time vendor. “I’ve seen rain delays, I’ve seen extra innings, but I’ve never seen a $1.50 hot dog steal the show. We can’t survive these Costco prices!”

“Did You Buy Anything?”

Costco has maintained its tradition of checking receipts, even at the ballpark. After purchasing their snacks, fans are required to have their receipts inspected by employees stationed at the exits of the concession stands.

“It’s like I’m back in the store, except instead of a cart full of bulk granola bars, I’m holding two hot dogs and a pizza slice the size of Texas,” joked one Mets fan. “I half-expected them to offer me a deal on a 10-pound bag of peanuts while I was there.”

League Championship Food Frenzy

As both the American League and National League Championship Series heat up, Costco’s unexpected foray into the ballpark food world has fans buzzing—and very full. Some spectators are even starting to forget about the action on the field, distracted by the sheer amount of food they’re juggling.

“I came here to watch some baseball, but at this point, I’m more invested in finishing this pizza slice before the 7th inning stretch,” said a Guardians fan. “Honestly, it’s a game within the game.”

With the League Championship Series far from over, only one question remains: Will Costco’s reign over ballpark food continue into the World Series? Or will traditional ballpark vendors make a comeback?

Stay tuned to see if Costco’s Kirkland Signature hot dogs become the real MVP of October baseball.

Joe Ditzel

Joe Ditzel is a keynote speaker, humor writer, and really bad golfer. You can reach him via email at [email protected] as well as Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn.