How does St. Mary’s make money on Oysterbake?  One lucrative revenue source is ticket sales.  The public can buy at $16 per ticket early and $20 at the gate.  About 70,000 people attend over the course of the weekend per the official website so even at just $16 that amounts to $1.12 million.  Parking is limited but also filled to capacity and provides another $10 a pop.  I’m not sure exactly how much food and beer will cost at Oysterbake 2010, but I know it can be pricey.

I just found the link with prices.  They use a coupon system which you need convert before you can see the price.  Beer is $4.50 (or 9 tickets for those of you on the ticket system).  An oyster basket is $5.  A baked oyster basket is $6.  Turkey leg is $5.  Large kettle corn is $6.  Shaved ice is $2.50.  BBQ taco is $3.0.  Beyond the food and drinks, tack on whatever proceeds or cut the always profitable carnival games bring in.

User TxRose on city-data.com wrote, “If you go to Oyster Bake in the morning it might be more family friendly, but quite honestly, I don’t think it’s worth the ticket price, food costs, beer costs, etc.”

Of course, St. Mary’s Oysterbake sponsors Miller Lite, Cricket, Ford, Lisa’s Mexican Restaurant, Yellowtail, and Thurmunz Seafood also contribute to the StMU pocketbook.

So that’s how St. Mary’s University makes most of its money from the food, fun, music, and liquor.  Where does it go?  The Oysterbake website says it basically goes back to the students, campus, and various programs.  There is a great chance of rain in San Antonio this weekend, but the show will go on.  Unfortunately for the Rattlers, bad weather does take a cut from the loot.

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