Coastal Carolina University’s Sept. 6 football home opener launched the start of free concessions at their football games. According to ESPN, Coastal is the first Football Bowl Subdivision program in the country to offer free concessions at games.
In the spring of 2025, CCU launched the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers app. This sports app gives fans access to free concessions, access to tickets, CCU sport updates, the Chanticleer Sports Network and more.
Fans may go to one of seven designated concession stands and scan this app. By scanning, they can get a free hotdog, nacho basket, bag of popcorn, and water bottle or soft drink. There is no limit to how many times fans can visit the concessions.
Charles Harman, chief revenue and business intelligence officer, said he hopes the unique idea will give a new incentive to attend games.
“It’s just a good thing for fans to get them engaged and make them feel like they’re getting a benefit, and we want to be fan-centric,” Harman said.
And he may have a point. The season opener had over 7,000 students getting tickets: the most in CCU’s history. While the increase in student presence may also be due to rising enrollment rates, the excitement for free concessions is clear.
“The food here is amazing. As a broke college student, we love it,” freshman kinesiology major Aili Spencer said.
Sandy Baldridge-Adrian, the associate vice president for auxiliary enterprises, said the CCU Food Crew has been preparing for the change since the announcement last spring.
“They’ve been visiting other universities and other places that do things like this. We’ve brought in new equipment, more volunteers, looked at time management,” she said.
Baldridge-Adrian said the CCU Food Crew students see working at the campus dining halls will continue to also work at the concession stands. She said there are also student volunteers as well as outside organizations including Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis Club and high school athletic teams.
While many are enthusiastic for the new approach, many have questioned where the budget for free concessions comes from.
According to Harman, athletic concessions are included as part of a broader university partnership with Aramark, who carries out the food services. Concession revenues are managed through university auxiliary services, so he could not speak on budgeting details.
“The university is working through the finances of this, but it was more important to have the experience for the fans,” said Baldridge- Adrian.
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing story regarding funding concerns of students and faculty.
