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Category: Stadiums

  • Are You Allowed to Eat Food on Charter Buses?

    Are You Allowed to Eat Food on Charter Buses?

    The itinerary is locked down, the head count is confirmed, and the driver is ready to roll. In the first few hours, everything is smooth sailing, until the first tummy rumbles. That’s when the charter bus food question inevitably arises. Hanging in the air like the scent of that one passenger’s home-packed tuna salad. It’s one of the great existential questions of group travel: Are we allowed to eat food on charter buses?

    The short answer isn’t really short. Yes, it is generally allowed to eat food on a charter bus, but this permission is almost always governed by a crucial layer of rules: the specific operator’s policy and a heavy dose of courtesy.

    Charter buses represent a huge capital expense for a company. These are considered a crucial asset that needs protection from the worst road-trip scourge: the spill. The difference between a public bus and a charter is that the renter is ultimately responsible for the outcome. So, while the brain is screaming, “It’s a long trip; I need fuel! ” The bus company’s ledger is noting that one spilled soda could mean a non-refundable cleaning fee for a group.

    Rules are in the Rental Contract

    When a group charters a bus, whether it’s for a school field trip or a big wedding shuttle, they secure a private and temporary space. This isn’t public transit with fixed rules. It is a vehicle hired under a contractual agreement. That contract does not just mention a cleaning fee, as it provides details on the boundaries of the on-board dining experience.

    It is important to read that fine print because it is where specific liability clauses and code of conduct rules are. The cleaning fee is the company’s defense mechanism against the sticky horrors of a soda explosion or a curry spill. Simply put, if the bus smells like last night’s takeout, who is going to want to rent it tomorrow? Reputational equity is a serious thing in the transportation business, and lingering odors are a quick way to lose it.

    Navigating the Menu

    Reviewing the bus kitchen means becoming an expert in low-mess and low-odor cuisine. It is advised to have things that are easily contained, don’t smell up the cabin, and won’t stain the seating fabric. 

    Good Snacks

    These are the snacks that generally sail through because they leave minimal residue and have a low aromatic footprint. 

    Dry and Non-Greasy Snacks. Pretzels, granola bars, crackers, and trail mixes are the MVPs of on-board snacking because they are quick and compact, and a few crumbs are easily swept up.

    Sealed Beverages. Stick to bottled water, sports drinks, or soda cans with resealable caps or secure tops. An open cup of coffee or a sloshing fountain drink is a catastrophic accident waiting to happen. A tight-fitting water bottle is everyone’s best friend on a moving vehicle.

    Fruit (The Right Kind). Fruits like apples, bananas, or grapes are perfect as they are contained and easy to eat without a plate.

    Sandwiches with Dry Fillings. A classic PB&J or a turkey and cheese sandwich without excessive sauces or lettuce works well, as these have low moisture content.

    Foods That Might Get You Charged

    These foods are either profoundly messy, aggressively greasy, or have a high stink factor. If a food requires a fork, a knife, or a full napkin stack to consume, reconsider, as it is likely a bus disaster waiting to happen.

    Pungent Foods. For the love of the bus air circulation, avoid anything with a strong smell, such as tuna salad or curry. The next group renting the bus shouldn’t have to smell these for their entire trip. 

    Greasy and Saucy Meals. Pizza, wings, tacos, BBQ ribs, or chili dogs are a hard no, as the mess potential for these items is just too high. Imagine a piece of pepperoni sliding off the slice during a curve; now there’s a grease spot on the seat, which is a guaranteed cleaning fee.

    Hot Beverages. While sometimes technically allowed, hot coffee or tea is a burn hazard on a moving vehicle. It is advised to stick to lukewarm in a secure mug if you absolutely must.

    The Unwritten Rule

    Beyond the company policies, there’s a softer and more human element at play, which is the group dynamics and respect. This is where the emotional cue comes in. Think about the driver. They are responsible for the safety of everyone on board. Showing courtesy means not presenting them with a trash avalanche at the end of a long shift.

    Most drivers will appreciate if your group leaves the bus clean more than any tip. It’s not just about cleaning up each spot but ensuring the entire bus is clear of debris.

    Bring Your Own Garbage Management System. For a very big group, don’t just rely on the tiny bin near the front. Bring large and secure trash bags and appoint a group leader to do a final sweep before the deboard. This simple act reduces the chances of incurring a fee, and it’s the best thing to do to ensure a smooth exit.

    Clean up spills immediately. If a disaster happens, grab some napkins or wipes and address the spill right away. An immediate action prevents a small issue from becoming a permanent stain.

    Mind the Neighbors. In group travel, one’s actions are closely connected to the comfort of those around them. Eating that messy and smelly sandwich might make your seatmate feel nauseous.

    The Bottom Line: Leave No Trace

    The charter bus is a private rolling home for the duration of the trip. You must approach it with the care of a trusted guest in a friend’s new car. The answer to the question, “Are you allowed to eat food on charter buses? ” is a conditional “Yes, but you are accountable for the condition of the shared space.” 

    It all boils down to two simple principles. First, always read the contract to know the specific “no-go” foods and the cost of the inevitable cleaning fee. Second, make smart snacking choices. If a meal is drippy, greasy, or pungent, it belongs at a rest stop, not on the bus. A quick and contained snack is fuel, but a full and messy meal is a potential liability.

    Ultimately, group travel is a communal experience, and the charter bus is a shared environment. By following the two abovementioned principles, the group avoids that painful cleaning fee, and the bus is ready for the next set of travelers. It’s all about leaving the bus in the state you hoped to find it.

  • Where is the Best Place to Sit at a Baseball Game to Catch a Ball

    Where is the Best Place to Sit at a Baseball Game to Catch a Ball

    In my experience, the best place to sit at a baseball game to catch a ball would most likely be anywhere along the third base line, left field, or where the home team sits behind their dugout. Those seats are usually more expensive, too.

    Speaking of high costs, parking these days seems to be more expensive than the ticket to see the ball game costs! That’s why, lately, some friends and I have opted to travel to see our Detroit Tiger’s baseball game via a charter bus. However, throughout my life, we have commuted to ball games in the following manner:

    • Van with my grandparents and family
    • Car with friends
    • Park at Nemo’s and take their shuttle with my ex-husband and sons
    • City bus from work, which is located off of Woodward Avenue, with work friends
    • Park at the casino in Greektown and walk ½ mile or take the People Mover with out-of-town clients

    I can say that my favorite way to travel has been with a charter bus. We get picked up, as a group, from one person’s home, the bus then drops us off in front of Comerica Park (the Detroit Tigers’ MLB stadium), and they pick us up at that same spot when the game is over. Easy breezy, lemon squeezy!

    Are seats behind the dugout good

    As a huge baseball fan and a player, I have been to so many Tigers’ games that I have lost count. Since I was a little girl, I have loved to play, watch, practice, eat, sleep, and breathe baseball. As a Michigander, naturally, my favorite team is the Tigers, and at just eleven years old, I got to see my team win the 1984 World Series.

    Every year, when my mom signed me up for Little League, the cost included two free tickets to a Tigers’ exhibition game, with seats along the third base line. While she also loved to watch Tigers’ baseball, she gave her ticket to her dad, my grandpa (Pops). It became a treasured tradition with me and my Pops – our trips down to Tiger Stadium on Michigan Avenue and Trumbull (now Comerica Park on Woodward Avenue) will always be some of my favorite memories.

    Later, when I was an older teenager and in my early twenties, my mom and I would attend Opening Day every year for her birthday, which was on April 8th, because the first home game generally falls on or around that date. We would attend other games throughout the season as well. We also went to see the second-to-last Tiger’s game played at Tiger Stadium before they, sadly, tore it down. That is a treasured memory with my mom and me that I will never forget.

    One time, a friend of mine landed primo seats right behind the dugout for free. We got to see the players up close, and they threw us a ball. I caught it, but my friend whined about how she got us the tickets, and that she deserved the ball – so, regrettably, I gave it to her.

    To this day, now in my early fifties, I still wear my baseball glove the whole time while watching a game, and I have yet to get a ball. And I have sat all over the ballpark – maybe someday before I pass on, I’ll catch one!

    According to the Society of American Baseball Research, “As baseball fans, the present authors have often wondered where to sit in a baseball stadium to maximize the likelihood of obtaining a baseball. Clearly, in America, this is a question of basic importance. If you doubt this, attend a major league baseball game with a child between the ages of six and 12, and he or she will set your doubts to rest.

    In the upper stands, nearly as many balls are fouled into the seats in the lower half of the three sections straight back of home plate as in the entire remainder of the upper deck. In the lower stands, the best places are among the most expensive seats, such as on the right side out to somewhat beyond first base. The equivalent seats on the left side are also good if the teams playing have a significant number of left-handed hitters,”.

    Worst place to sit at a baseball game

    While sitting behind the dugout, you might get a ball tossed to you and see the players up close, but it is not necessarily the best spot to see the entire field of play. Likewise, behind home plate is the best spot to view the entire field of play, but it is not a good spot to catch a fly ball, let alone a foul ball, because there is a giant net in front of you.

    MLive reviews and reports the worst seat at Comerica Park, “At Comerica Park, the worst seat, according to Bookies, is located in section 345, row 20, seat 9.

    First, it’s just about as far away from home plate as a seat can get. The sound of the ball doesn’t even reach you until a second or two after you see it hit. There is also an obstructed view of the left field corner in which you can’t see deep into foul territory and into part of the bullpen. You also can’t see the giant scoreboard.

    On top of that, for a night game in July, the sun was shining right in our face until it finally set in the distance behind the stadium. However, it is under a small overhang which only extends over the back rows shielding you from rain.

    It takes a long time to get to this seat. You have to walk up the stairs and then all the way to the very end where you’ll find the last section in the stadium’s upper deck. Once you get there, it’s a hike to the top,”.

    Well, at fifty-two years old with bad knees, those nosebleed seats would not work for me at all. Furthermore, my balance is off lately as I am in menopause, and you would not want to see my booty tumbling down the stairs when I get up for the umpteenth time to use the restroom!

    Where is the best place to sit at a baseball game to catch a ball

    In conclusion, I would highly suggest that for the best shot at catching a ball, aim for seats along third base or left field—just steer clear of the nosebleeds and bring your glove.

    Play ball!