Arizona football fans can eat their way around the stadium, from hot dogs and nachos to Sonoran dogs, horchata and a new university-branded candy bag that some fans say brings good luck.

Behind the counter, employees prepare for crowds, recommend menu items and build relationships with returning fans.

While filling orders quickly and accurately is the focus, workers say talking with customers is an important part of the game-day experience.

Christine Horetski, in her second year working Casino Del Sol stadium concessions, said hot dogs and nachos remain popular choices and beer is also a frequent purchase.

Horetski believes the relatively affordable price of hot dogs contributes to their popularity, but the menu also features newer options, including macaroni and cheese bites, which replaced the elote bites, and the Cat Tail, a churro-like dessert with cinnamon and icing.

Other offerings include the new Zookeeper burger and Southwest Big 12 Dog.

The Zookeeper burger stacks a hamburger patty, a chicken patty, egg, Spam, peanut butter and jelly, and American, pepperjack and mozzarella cheeses. The Southwest Big 12 Dog is a footlong hot dog topped with Hatch chili pulled pork, queso, corn and pico de gallo.

Horetski said employees have created a competition to see how many Zookeeper burgers they can sell.

Working concessions is also a great opportunity to connect with fans, Horetski said.

“It’s just a nice way to socialize with people,” she said.

While some stands are introducing new menu items, others are changing how customers purchase their food.

At Stand 6, a concession worker named Billy described a self-service checkout system that lets customers select snacks and candy before paying at automated registers.

Billy, a Tucson native, said the system was introduced within the past two years and that employees remain available to assist when needed.

He believes the system has improved the customer experience.

When it comes to popularity, Billy said pretzels remain a fan favorite at his location and that customer service still plays an important role.

“It’s definitely all about the smiles,” Billy said when describing his favorite part of working on game days.

He said nonprofit organizations can also operate concession stands at the stadium, with a portion of sales supporting their causes. His group was volunteering on behalf of a foundation that assists teenage parents and college students who have children.

The arrangement provides participating organizations with an opportunity to raise money while connecting with Arizona football fans.

Beverage sales are another area of concessions that remain in high demand. A worker who identified himself as DQ said fans enjoy the variety of alcoholic beverages available, including Arizona Hard Teas and India pale ales.

DQ said having different selections encourages customers to return and try something new. He also said friendly service helps build relationships with returning fans, some of whom stop by simply to say hello or ask for recommendations.

“Just meeting the fans . . . providing great customer service with everybody. Having short conversations, making people laugh,” DQ said when describing his favorite parts of the job.

Alongside longtime stadium food staples, local and national restaurant brands provide additional choices for fans.

At Chick-fil-A, employees Emma and Alexa said the original chicken sandwich is a popular option, citing its recognizable taste and familiarity among customers. The restaurant operates booths on both the east and west sides of the stadium, with one employee saying the west-side location can experience considerable foot traffic, depending on the game.

Although freshly prepared fries are not available at the stadium booths, employees said chips are an alternative side option.

Specialty vendors also contribute to the stadium’s food selection.

An employee of a stadium taco truck said the business has operated at football games for four or five years and he has worked there for about two years. The truck specializes in shredded chicken and ribeye tacos, with customer preferences varying depending on the game.

“Honestly, it just depends on the day,” the employee said.

The Sonoran hot dog stand offers fans another one of Tucson’s culinary traditions. Employee Isabella Serrano said customers frequently order hot dogs with all the toppings, including tomatoes, onions, mustard, mayonnaise and beans.

Serrano believes the familiar smell and the stand’s large sign help attract customers.

The stand also sells aguas frescas, with horchata being its most popular beverage and cucumber another customer favorite.

“It’s refreshing. It’s really nice. It’s not too sweet,” Serrano said.

For fans looking to satisfy their sweet tooth, Dippin’ Dots are available in several flavors at locations throughout Arizona Stadium. Employees Aaron and Anthony said cookies and cream is the most popular flavor at their location, followed by rainbow, a dairy-free option.

Dippin’ Dots are flash-frozen with liquid nitrogen during production and stored in powered freezers at the stadium.

The business also has locations near the north end zone and ZonaZoo, with one employee saying their location is busiest around halftime. Other stands serve customers more consistently throughout games.

Local businesses are also finding opportunities to connect their products with Arizona football traditions. Tanna Cole, owner of Tannas Botannas, said her Mexican candy business collaborated with the University of Arizona to create a university-branded candy bag.

The licensing process took about a year and a half, Cole said. The business has been selling candy throughout the season and offers 12 variations.

Cole said peach is among the fastest-selling flavors and that the business typically sells out during games.

The university-branded candy bag has also become a popular purchase among some fans who believe it brings good luck.

“A lot of people will purchase the U of A bags and then go into the stadium and take pictures with them,” Cole said.

Kyleigh Pandhi is a University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist based in Tucson. Contact her at kyleighpandhi@gmail.com.

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