Our picks for the best affordable meal at the Super Bowl

While many of you are intently focused on the actual game between the 49ers and Chiefs, a far more important battle is afoot at the Super Bowl: What type of affordable meal would you make given the concession prices at Hard Rock Stadium.

Here is one of the concession stands in Miami. Sure there are several other food options in the stadium, but let’s focus on this menu for the purpose of our game.

None of these prices stand out as particularly outlandish relative to other stadiums and arena across the professional sports landscape. These Miami prices only look exorbitant compared to last year’s exceedingly affordable food options at the Super Bowl in Atlanta.

We decided to each select a full meal from this menu, which must include:

With that, here’s what we would choose from the Miami menu:

Grilled chicken sandwich with chips ($14), 32-oz. soda ($15). Total: $29

Twenty-nine bucks is probably on the high end here, but my side is included with my main pick, and the large soda comes with free refills. Sure, I’ll miss a good chunk of the game while in line six or eight times to get more soda, or subsequent trips to the restroom, but my bang for the considerable buck is still excellent.

Half-pound angus burger with fries ($16), cheese cup ($3), 16-oz. draft domestic beer ($12). Total: $31

In terms of pure value, you’re getting the most possible food for your buck (I think) with a half-pound burger and some dense-ass fries alongside it. Plus you escape the orbit of any undercooked chicken, which we’ve seen be a thing at Super Bowls in the past.

I hate that I’m at a point in my life where I can look at a $12 beer and say “hey, that’s not so bad,” but here we are. I’m not spending $4,500 on my nosebleed seat just to balk at the extra few bucks for an import, but since we don’t know what those fancy cans are (and because tap beer is always better, assuming clean lines), I’ll go with what’s almost certainly a head-free pour of Bud heavy. The extra money I’ve saved there can go toward a cheese cup — either for dipping my fries or for sipping casually throughout the game.

Footlong dog ($12), cheese cup ($3), 12-oz. water ($5). Total: $20

Do I like that I have to pay money for a cup of cheese? Absolutely not. That’s a condiment that should be no more than a 50-cent addition. That said, it’s going to make a few things on the menu significantly better. Give me a cup of melted, artery-clogging cheese on the fries, the pretzel, and — most of all — the hot dog. It’s a light meal, especially with only a water to wash it down, but I’m not trying to have a full meal at the game. Just a snack to get by. I’d rather have the extra $10-15 in my pocket.

Half-pound premium angus cheeseburger with fries ($16), 32-oz. fountain soda. ($15). Total: $31

There comes a point where you need to accept that this is what it is. To a degree I think we’re all coming to terms with the fact there’s almost no way to make it out of the game and eat for under $30. So, I’m in for the long haul.

A half-pound burger is enough food to hold me over — especially with fries. The refillable soda will last me the entire game. Trust me, I’d love to find a way to justify getting an imported canned beer — but if we’re trying to be thrifty I need to find a way to drink something all game long on the cheap.

These prices suck.

Cheeseburger with fries ($16), cheese cup ($3), Bud Light bottle ($14) Total: $33

Look, I realize this is pricey, but I’m pretty sure you get more beer getting the Bud Light bottle than the regular draft domestic cup. I also was just at Hard Rock Stadium in late December for the Orange Bowl, and after having the subpar chicken sandwich at this very restaurant I would definitely get the cheese burger instead, with an extra side of cheese just in case.

Sea salt fries ($7), pretzel ($9), cheese cup ($3), water ($5). Total: $24

I’m not a beer snob — but if I don’t think Bud Light is worth the couple bucks they cost in real life, I’m sure as hell not going to spend $14 on one. I’ll take a water, please, to wash down my sea salt fries, my pretzel, and my cheese cup (which I assume means the pretzel doesn’t come with its own dip — which should be illegal).