I have worked at Hilton Coliseum in concessions for 15 years, but on Nov. 14 I quit my job. For 14 of those years, I worked under SMG Management and I really enjoyed my job and the people I worked with. This year, the athletic department took over Hilton operations and gave the concessions contract to Centerplate Management. We former employees were invited to re-apply for our jobs, and I thought I would be able to continue with my employment there. I was wrong.

I had accepted that things would not be the same under new management — that we would no longer offer the variety of pop and food, that there would be price increases, no straws for the pop, no jalapenos, black olives or tomatoes for the walking tacos, as all of these were deemed too expensive for a company whose number-one goal is to keep their costs to an absolute minimum. I had hoped that I could simply continue to make ice cream cones, as I had done in the past, and just go about my job. But on Nov. 14 it was made clear to me how unimportant I am to Centerplate.

I was asked to come in that particular night to work for the double header men’s basketball game. Though I thought I would work in the ice cream stand as I had done in the past, I was told instead that some new people would be running it. Quoting Centerplate manager Brian Stern, “anyone can pull down the lever and make ice cream,” so I went to work at another stand where I assumed they needed me. However, after working for only two hours of what would have been a six-hour shift, I and all the other paid workers in the stand were pulled out and told to go home, since Centerplate now had extra volunteers who showed up to replace us.

When we tried to ask why we were being sent home, we were told by Mr. Stern that having the volunteers work was a “win-win” situation. As it cost less for Centerplate to pay them, the volunteers earned money for their charity. I, however, failed to see the “win” for me and my fellow employees, concluding that Centerplate only wanted us employed when they couldn’t find enough volunteers. It seems my time and dedication to Centerplate is worthless when a better option is presented them.

I am sad to leave Hilton behind, as it used to be a great place to work. Over the many years, I’ve enjoyed making ice cream cones with the occasional applause from customers for making a nice, large Clone Cone! I will miss my fellow co-workers and the fun family crowds at the basketball games. But I will certainly not miss the unpredictability and utter disrespect of Centerplate Management for both its employees and customers. Now I can only feel bad for the customers who are left with the substandard food and service now offered at Hilton Coliseum, and I can only hope that if enough complaints are made about Centerplate, they will be forced to change their ways.

Kim Adams

Resident

Ames