Scores are based on these criteria, all scored out of 10.

Deliciousness

A simple assessment of flavour. Does the snack in question taste good? Or does it taste like an unwelcome mixture of cardboard and old newspapers? Obviously, expectations must be moderated. One can’t expect gourmet-quality fare, but it’s fair to want something hearty and tasty that will see you through the match.

Value

Given the captive, and often inebriated, audience at sporting venues, stadium food is not synonymous with good value for money. A certain degree of daylight robbery is de rigueur, so this is really a measure of the extent to which you feel like you’ve been fleeced. A 10 would mean you’ve paid a relative pittance for something genuinely delicious. A 1, on the other hand, would mean parting with a king’s ransom for something flavourless, undercooked, and unidentifiable.

Terroir

The best stadiums have food vendors whose fare reflects the place. This might mean local businesses with food truck outlets setting up shop at the match, or regional specialities on offer at concession stands around the stadium. A high score here reflects a dish that represents the area in which the stadium is situated served by a local vendor – something you truly wouldn’t expect to find at any other venue. A low score reflects standard, generic fare found at venues the world over – think disappointing burgers and chips.

Uniqueness/Novelty

An answer of yes to one or more of the following questions is likely to warrant a high score here: Is the dish something that you’ve never seen before? Is it served in a way that quirkily reflects the sport or team you’re watching? Are you drawn to purchasing it because, upon spotting it on the menu, you thought ‘Hmmm, that’s interesting’? On the other hand, a low score would reflect a singular lack of originality or charm. Just another portion of boring old chips in a cardboard tray.

Serving Size

If it fills you up and you don’t find yourself looking for the nearest Tesco Express on the way home to supplement your in-stadium snack with a meal deal, then it’ll score well here. If a moody teen who wishes his parents hadn’t forced him into a weekend catering job flops four chips into a bag and hands it to you with a blank expression, it’ll be a lower score.