During the University of North Dakota’s recent Dollar Dog Nights, a remarkable 1,600 hot dogs were sold at the men’s and women’s basketball games held at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks. This promotion, which offers hot dogs at an unbeatable price of $1 each, proved to be a massive hit, especially during the men’s game against St. Thomas on January 15, where the entire supply of 1,000 hot dogs was sold out before the game even started.
Jody Hodgson, General Manager of Ralph Engelstad Arena, acknowledged the overwhelming demand. “In hindsight, I wish we would have made additional hot dogs and had them ready to go,” he stated. “But as you can imagine, you are not really able to keep up with the demand and make them on the go.” This highlights the enthusiasm surrounding the event, which has been featured every season for the past four years.
Balancing Demand and Waste
While Dollar Dog Nights have been a recurring theme, attendance uncertainty has made it challenging to predict sales accurately. Hodgson pointed out the delicate balance between meeting customer demand and minimizing waste. “We’ve had nights in the past where we have done it and thrown 300 or 400 hot dogs away, and nobody feels good about that,” he noted. The number of hot dogs prepared is based on estimated attendance for each game.
Another critical factor is staffing. For the men’s game on January 22, nine concession workers were involved in preparing the hot dogs, which took about 90 minutes of preparation time. “It’s a bit of a guessing game to see if we can find the right balance,” Hodgson explained. “You kind of have to pick a number ahead of time where you can order product, prepare the product, cook it, and have it all ready to go.”
Community Engagement and Future Growth
The popularity of Dollar Dog Nights has coincided with rising food prices, making it increasingly difficult for families to dine out affordably. This promotion stands out among traditional sports events, such as “green outs” or senior nights, by adding an accessible option for fans. Hodgson expressed satisfaction with the promotion’s success, stating, “We’ve been really happy with that ability to attract an audience and get more people into The Betty.”
The record of 1,000 hot dogs sold during the January 22 game likely matches a record at the facility, according to Hodgson. With this year’s success, preparations are underway to increase the number of hot dogs available for next year’s promotion. Hodgson anticipates that the number sold could surpass current records, further solidifying Dollar Dog Nights as a staple of the University of North Dakota’s basketball season.