Between 2010 and 2011, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie reportedly spent $82,594 at Delaware North Sportservice, which is the company that operates all of the concessions at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. That buys some serious food and drinks during New York Giants and New York Jets games.
Christie’s expense report was prepared by Watchdog.org under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The $82,000 stems from 58 separate trips to the stadium. It is also reported that the New Jersey Republican State Committee reimbursed the state treasury back in 2012 for the expenses charged at MetLife Stadium.
According to Christie’s press secretary, Kevin Roberts, “The official nature and business purpose of the event remains the case regardless of whether the event is at the State House, Drumthwacket or a sporting venue.”
From his five years in office, the 2010 and 2011 NFL seasons were the most noteworthy of Christie’s spending at MetLife. The governor reportedly used the luxury boxes at the government-owned stadium for free. Though, food and drinks were not included.
For those interested in what Christie has spent beyond the MetLife expenses, here is more of the Watchdog.org report:
Christie spent $360,000 from his state allowance during his five years in office. More than 80 percent of that money, or $300,000, was used to buy food, alcohol and desserts, according to a New Jersey Watchdog analysis of records released by the governor’s office.
In addition to his $175,000 a year salary, the governor receives $95,000 a year in expense advances, paid quarterly by the state. In the state budget, it is listed as “an allowance of funds not otherwise appropriated and used for official receptions on behalf of the state, the operation of an official residence, for other expenses.
The laws do not currently require Christie to attach itemized receipts to his expense reports, but there is now legislation under consideration that would require detailed receipts in the future.
Doing the math on the numbers mentioned above, it means that an average of $1,424 was spent by Christie on each trip to the stadium. That’s a ton of soda, beer and hot dogs per outing.
Photo: USA Today Sports