Team Mama Idea: How to Run a Successful Concession Stand + TEN Best Selling Items!

Concession stands are without a doubt one of the greatest fundraisers in sports. I mean people have to eat, right? That being said, they do require quite a bit of work. But don't worry mama, I've got you covered!


Here are my tips to help you take your concession stand game to the next level.

• Plan ahead. Where will you set up? How large of a crowd are you expecting? Will you have access to a grill? The better prepared you are, the better the end result.
• Take a trip to your local wholesale club. Buying in bulk will save you both time and money.
• Round up volunteers. You want to have at least 2 people working per shift. We have 3 during No. 1's high school basketball games, and let me tell you, there are times when we could use a 4th... especially for those Friday night Varsity games! Using a SignUpGenius is my favorite way to keep track of volunteers- it'll even send them a reminder a couple of days before.
• Keep prices fair. Remember, you want people to buy from you. Not from the drive-thru or convenience store down the street!
• Make a "menu". Be sure to list all available items, including prices. Set out a couple for customers and keep one for you and your crew. This is a huge time saver!!
• Assign roles. Your goal is to get people through the line as quickly as possible. The best way I've found to do that is by forming an assembly line. (i.e. If there are three of you, one can take orders, the second can handle the money, and the third can be the runner aka get the food).
• Have fun. Working concessions doesn't have to be stressful. I actually enjoy it! You can sign up to work with a couple of your Sports Mama bffs and even meet some new people.

And now, as promised. I asked hundreds of Sports Mamas in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group for their best sellers, and the winners are (in no particular order):

1. Hot dogs. There's just something about a good ol' hotdog wrapped in aluminum foil that is almost impossible to resist. They are inexpensive and easy. They can be grilled (outdoors over charcoal or indoors on a George Foreman), boiled, or even cooked in the crockpot!
2. Chic-fil-A sandwiches. I'm not sure that anything sells quicker than these! I mean, who doesn't love Chic-fil-A? Your local restaurant will be more than willing to answer any questions you may have and may even offer a discounted fundraiser rate!
3. Pizza. Order it ahead of time, especially when ordering a large quantity. Once it arrives, individually wrap each slice in a piece of foil- it'll not only help to keep it warm, it'll also make distribution a breeze. You can never go wrong with cheese and pepperoni!
4. Noodle cups. Kids love those things!
5. Water. Because what concession stand doesn't sell water.
6. Gatorade. These are always great to have, especially for athlete's needing to rehydrate post-game.
7. Hot chocolate. Perfect for those cold, late night games!
8. Popcorn. Another best seller. No fancy popcorn machine? No worries! Our school sells the individual, microwaveable bags. We pop them fresh to order. That buttery smell reels customers right in. We can't keep it in stock!
9. Nachos. You can keep it simple by offering only cheese or go all out and offer chili or even walking tacos. The possibilities really are endless!
10. Candy. Skittles, Starburst, and Ring Pops are always fan favorites!

*** Honorable mentions. Fries, burgers, chicken tenders, and pickle pops (I had never heard of a pickle pop before. You learn something new every day!).

I hope you find these tips helpful! What are your best sellers?






*** Looking for more fundraiser ideas? I can help with that! Click HERE for my top TEN, tried and tested ideas!

Team Mama Idea: 10 Fundraising Ideas That Actually Work!

Fundraising and youth sports go together like peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies, Bert and Ernie. With most leagues being 100% volunteer ran, they rely heavily on fundraising to help cover costs such as uniforms, equipment, travel expenses, and end of season parties.


While fundraising may not make the list of your top ten favorite things to do, there is simply no getting around it. So today I'm sharing TEN fundraiser ideas with you that are tried, tested, and not too stressful (i.e. no knocking on your neighbors doors!).


Ready? Here we go!

1. 50/50 Raffle- This is one of the easiest, less time consuming, yet most popular ones. All you need are raffle tickets and two containers (one to hold the tickets and the other to collect the money in). These raffles are perfect for game day! Players, families, and other spectators buy one (or more!) ticket(s). They keep one half and you stick the other half in the container . At the end of the event someone picks a random ticket out of the container. The person with the matching raffle ticket wins half of the money collected and the league keeps the other half. That's it!
2. Car Wash- "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That old saying holds true to this one. Begin by finding a place to hold it (usually a local gas station or school). Make signs, spread the word, gather up your team and supplies including a bucket for the money, and get to washing! I've found that car washes work best when they are done on a donation basis, in other words there is no set fee. People can give what they'd like.
3. Bake Sale- It's exactly what it sounds like. (Seriously, who doesn't like brownies, cookies, and cupcakes?!) Choose a date (game days are perfect!), spread the word, round up volunteers to help bake, set up, and sell those goodies!
4. Touchdown Jar- This is by far one of my favorite ways to raise money! So much so, that I've written an entire blog post on it. Click HERE to learn all about it. I know it says touchdown jar, but you could totally tailor it to fit your sport (think Goal Jar for soccer, 3-Point Jar for basketball, Home Run Jar for baseball- you get the gist). Why am I so passionate about this one? Easy. Because it works, that's why!
5. Team Picture Day- Work with a local photography company that specializes in youth sports photos. Be sure that the company has a built-in fundraiser feature- you can usually add an additional $1-$5 to the price of each picture package, all which will come back to the club. Be sure that your coaches know that it is not only picture day, but a fundraiser as well!
6. Spirit Wear Sale- What Sports Mama doesn't jump at the opportunity to rock her athlete's team colors?? Very similar to the team picture day idea, spirit wear companies also have the built-in fundraiser feature. Before starting, be sure to have an idea of what items will sell best (i.e. do people really want to spend their money on stadium blankets in the middle of the Summer?).
7. Concession Stand- Another oldie, but goodie. People just can't resist the smell of hot dogs cooking on the grill... or a warm cup of hot chocolate when it's 30 degrees out!  Buy your items in bulk and set up shop at home games. Be sure to keep your prices reasonable, especially when there are stores selling the same items within a short distance. Remember, you want people to buy from YOU, not them! (Click HERE for tips on running a successful concession stand as well as a list of the ten best sellers!).
8. Restaurant Nights- These are always well attended. Just be sure to do your research beforehand. Some restaurants will give you 50% of ALL sales made during the agreed upon fundraiser hours, while others give a much smaller percentage and require that each customer make them aware that they are there for the fundraiser to receive the money. Trust me. I've learned the hard way before! Location and timing are everything- schedule it for a day that practices are held and choose a restaurant that is as close to your practice facility as possible. This is KEY!
9. No Frills Fundraiser- This is one our previous football club did, and as a Board member, I can promise you that it really works! You simply come up with a generic letter that introduces the club, your mission and asks for monetary donations. You then distribute the letters to each athlete, have the athlete personally address each one to the friends/family members of their choice, mail them out, and wait for the donations to pour in. It's that simple!
10. Donations- Just like the no frills fundraiser, but without the paperwork. Spend a couple of hours standing alongside your athlete(s) outside of a local grocery store, having them in uniform will help them to stand out amongst the crowd. Let people know who you all are and what exactly you're raising money for. Take a bucket (or helmet if it's football season!) with you to collect the donations in. People like to help the youth and their communities, that's a given!

I hope these ideas help you to have your most successful season yet!


Happy fundraising!




Have an idea that wasn't mentioned above? Please share it with us in the comment section below or in our private, members only Facebook Group!

*** Click HERE for 5 COVID safe fundraising ideas!

Team Mama Idea: Touchdown Jar!

For those of you unfamiliar with the Touchdown Jar, I'm here to fill you in!


You know how you're always stuck scrambling around at the end of the season for money to cover the costs of the team party, players gifts, etc.? Well, say goodbye to that! Last season, we raised $391.46 this way! No need to beg people for money. All thanks to "the jar"!


Here's what it's all about:

• Who- Touchdown Jar

• What- A jar used to collect money for end of season festivities, or anything else your team desires (shirts, trophies, even coaches gifts). It doesn't even have to be a jar, to be honest. I currently use a fantasy football bank that I was previously gifted from an awesome group of parents. Up until then I was using a shipping tube from Michaels that I painted and jazzed up a bit with a helmet decal. I've even seen people use coffee cans. In fact, they work great because of the noise they make when coins are added!

• Where- Games, scrimmages- both home and away.

• When- Any time your team scores a touchdown, you pass the jar around. You can assign a single person to do it, take turns, or simply pass it from fan to fan. Little siblings are great for the job! Who can say no to a sweet, smiling, cute little kid? I send out weekly emails (usually the day after each game) letting the team know how much we collected that game and what it brings our grand total to.

• Why- Because it's soooo much easier than trying to collect money at the end of the season. It doesn't feel like the typical money collection. Fans (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends) are super excited because their team just scored, which makes them more generous. And quite frankly because it works, that's why. As previously mentioned, we raised $391.46 last year... $391.46! We used it to cover our laser tag party and even purchased personalized shirts for our team. Think about it? Would you have received that type of major money simply by sending out an email asking for it? Yeah, I didn't think so either.

Yep, that is a $20 bill in there!


What are you waiting for? Make your jar and go score some touchdowns!!!





*** Touchdown Jar totals to date:


2015- $391.46
2016 (No. 1's team)- $570.60, (No. 2's team)- $224.24
2017- $542.59








*** Sports Mama Tip: I know it says touchdown jar, but you could totally tailor it to fit your sport (i.e. Goal Jar for soccer, 3-Point Jar for basketball, Home Run Jar for baseball- you get the gist).

How cute is this?!? Kristy O., one of the awesome Sports Mamas in our Facebook Group made it!


Here's another one courtesy of Jaque L. So creative!

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