WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Assume that you are the food and beverage (F&B) director at a full-service hotel in a large East Coast college town. Your general manager, Mr. Peterson, is planning to have a large event centered on this year's Super Bowl. As the F&B director, you are an integral part of the event planning committee. One of the teams in the NFL final is from the state in which your hotel is located, so fan interest is very high. Mr. Peterson proposes an event that will be held in the hotel's Grand Ballroom, which can hold 700 people. The festivities will begin at 3:00 P.M. on Super Bowl Sunday with the televised pregame show, a darts tournament, and a Mexican food buffet. At 6:30 P.M., the game is to be shown on five 60-inch TV screens that will be placed around the ballroom. The chief maintenance engineer has assured Mr. Peterson that the sets can be mounted on the ballroom's walls. The evening will conclude with a postgame "victory" party, which will end around midnight. During one of the planning meetings, the discussion centers on the admission price that will be charged. The issue of reserved seating is raised by Scott Haner, director of sales and marketing. He believes that corporate clients of the hotel will be more inclined to attend if they can be assured good seats near the large-screen televisions.

1. As a hospitality professional, what issues must you consider prior to finalizing this Super Bowl party event?
2. If Mr. Peterson elects to charge a $20 fee for seats close to the large screens but only $5 for seats farther away from the screens, would your opinion be different? Why or why not?
3. What are the responsibilities of the management team in this scenario?