As Major League Baseball’s 2010 season kicks off, on-site concessionaires are focusing on bringing more variety and upscale offerings to ballparks across America.
While hot dogs remain the top food item sold at ballparks -- more than 21 million will be served this season, according to National Hot Dog and Sausage Council -- Aramark, Delaware North and Centerplate have several plans in the works to amp up their concessions, from adding gluten-free and vegetarian fare to introducing entirely new concepts built around local tastes.
Aramark Corp., whose major league clients include the Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies and New York Mets, has expanded the amount of vegetarian and gluten-free fare at all 14 of its ballparks, said David Freireich, a spokesman at the Philadelphia-based company. New gluten-free items will include hot dogs, burgers and even beer.
Additionally, the company will provide a variety of offerings, such as old-fashioned milkshakes, a classic double cheeseburger, grilled bistro chicken sandwiches and homemade kettle corn on this yearÕs menus. In addition, a number of local favorites, including a fully loaded signature hot dog, will be available at each stadium.
Ballpark concessions also will offer new combo meals and value packages, which continue to grow in popularity, Freireich said.
Aramark said it spent the off-season fine-tuning its food and beverage offerings as well as retail merchandise programs and facility services to improve fans' experience on game days.
"It takes a combination of dedication, strong partnerships, creative thinking and disciplined execution to ensure fans receive maximum value from their trip to the ballpark," said Marc Bruno, president of Aramark's sports, entertainment and conventions division. "We're doing more than ever before to add to the game day experience."
Delaware North Cos., the Buffalo, N.Y.-based foodservice operator at more than 50 major and minor league ballparks across the country, said it has teamed up with the Food Network in a multiyear agreement to develop new menus and restaurant and retail concepts for all of its sports and entertainment locations. Among the concessionaire's major league customers are the St. Louis Cardinals, the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins, which are moving into a new stadium this season.
In the first phase of the partnership, the Food Network and its chefs will create signature dishes for suite menus at major league stadiums, and Delaware North will build and operate the concepts.
Dennis Szefel, Delaware North's chief administrative officer, said the partnership with the Food Network would help broaden the on-site company's customer and culinary reach.
"Food Network has the depth of culinary experience to help us develop new and unique food and beverage concepts and experiences for the millions who dine where Delaware North operates," he said.
Sergei Kuharsky, general manager of new business enterprises at Scripps Networks, a division of Food Network's parent, Scripps Networks Interactive, said the partnership would allow the network to "spread our table wider and deepen [the] relationship with viewers who have always wanted to taste what they see us serve up on TV, online and in [our] magazine."
Like Aramark, Centerplate Inc. is increasing the number of vegan and vegetarian options available at its ballparks, which include the homes of the San Francisco Giants and Tampa Bay Rays, among others. New menu additions include vegan soups, organic fruit smoothies and vegetarian hot dogs.
In addition, the Stamford, Conn.-base company said it will put more emphasis on showcasing some of the local foods where the ballparks are situated. For example, new food concepts will include a stand offering hand-carved roasted meats, a fresh seafood stand, a charcuterie offering sausages, meats and cheeses, and a cheese steak kiosk.
The company also is working to make its ballparks more environmentally friendly. Green initiatives to be employed consist of new cooking equipment that has been designed to reduce oil and energy consumption by as much as 50 percent, Centerplate said.
Despite a variety of new food options at ballparks, hot dogs remain as popular as ever, said the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. According to its projections, the three stadiums expected to serve the most hot dogs this year are the Boston Red Sox's Fenway Park, with 1.67 million hot dogs; the Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field, with 1.54 million hot dogs; and Philadelphia Phillies' Citizen Bank Park, with 1.45 million hot dog.
Stadiums also are finding ways to create signature hot dogs that reflect local flavors, such as the San Diego Padres' bacon-wrapped Sonoran Dog or the Pittsburgh Pirates' Pittsburgh Dog, which is a foot-long hot dog topped with diced tomato, coleslaw, grilled onions, provolone cheese and French fries.
"There's no question that hot dogs and sausages hit home runs year after year," said Tom Super, spokesman for the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. "Even with vast additions to stadiums' menus, fans still relish the hot dog as their number one food choice at the ballpark."
Molly Gise contributed to this report.
Contact Elissa Elan at [email protected].