The problem with the food/drink is that Spotless has a monopoly. No competition so value declines.
Well Fritz and the Donuts aren't Spotless so not quite a monopoly but your point still stands. The sort of industrial scale catering that Spotless does is quite expensive and really requires those kind of prices. Smaller market type stands could probably provide cheaper and more varied goods to your standard Phoenix game but would be completely insufficient for an All Blacks game or the 7s and events of that scale. Caravans or even independents using the Spotless facilities would really struggle to cater to a 20k+ event or even a 15k.
It would be cool to see a greater variety of things like Fritz around the stadium, a little more variety would be nice.
Having worked on the hospitality/catering side of things at some large events such as festivals and big commercial fairs/shows where 20k is a drop in the ocean. You'd be surprised how easily a bunch of small independent caters can quite happily accommodate those sorts of figures.
You probably only have to cater for around 6000- 8000 for food max, if that. The vast majority is getting beverages out - which is not rocket science.
All you have to do is offer each stand as a pitch and just come up with a price and lease it out for the season.
You only can serve so many due to space and time, (hmm sounds a bit Dr Who that). So what is the difference of having a kitchen manned by 6 Spotless employees or 6 independent? You are saying that that the local Curry houses, Chinese, Chippies, Outside Caterers with a few household names such as BK and Macca's could not come up with a better service than Spotless?
What Spotless do well at are Hospitals, Prisons, Nursing homes where they offer the whole package of providing food, linen and cleaning. Going to a live event is about enjoyment and the whole experience - good food contributes to that. Good food is not Spotless strong point. Their food is cheap, basic, but does the job.
I think whoever signed Spotless up missed the whole point of catering at a live event. Sure it's easier for the Stadium to just have to deal with one firm but you are dealing with paying customers who expect something decent, not inmates or patients who don't pay for the food and therefore have very little say in what they get to eat.
If the stadium do see us as a captive audience, that will accept any old crap, then they deserve to have poor attendance they are currently getting.