Throughout the coming months, more than 100 Delaware North locations around the globe will be holding special celebrations for the company’s 100th anniversary.
Here’s a look at several locations that have already held festivities in honor of Delaware North’s centennial:
A delicious outdoor picnic featuring grilled hot dogs and burgers, popcorn from a vintage machine and an 
old-fashioned live band greeted Delaware North associates, Buffalo Bills’ staff and the public outside Ralph Wilson Stadium. Nostalgic uniforms worn by company staff working the Aug. 21 event harkened back to what the concessions experience was like for customers during Delaware North’s infancy.
Officials from Hunter’s Hope – a foundation named in honor of Hunter Kelly, the late son of Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly – were onsite, raffling Jim Kelly memorabilia to raise awareness and funds for Krabbe Leukodystrophy, which took Hunter’s life.
“I’m just glad to be a part of a company that has 100 years of heritage and allows us to express ourselves in both the culinary and management fields,” said Glenn Zdazenski, Delaware North’s general manager at Ralph Wilson Stadium, who has been with the company for the past four years. “Some of the many reasons why I’m so passionate about what I do are because I have the chance to work in a place as unique and special as Ralph Wilson Stadium. Working alongside the Buffalo Bills is wonderful, and the people of Western New York are fantastic people to work with!”
“I like the challenges that are presented every day,” said Delaware North’s executive chef at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Andy Altomare. “Pleasing a crowd of 73,000 people in a few hours is a really amazing feeling! I think it’s great being a part of a company that surpasses all the challenges 100 years can bring – and we’re still growing stronger each and every day.”
Meanwhile, also in Western New York, a full morning of making the earth a greener, happier place was on tap for Delaware North’s associates at the New York State Thruway’s Clarence T
ravel Plaza. The associates’ “Act of Green” for Delaware North’s 100th anniversary was to help the community maintain the cleanliness of Tillman Road Nature Preserve in Clarence, N.Y. Not only did this 235-acre wildlife sanctuary brimming with grassy fields and deciduous swamp have all of its trails cleaned, but associates disposed of debris that had been in and around the park’s pond. To further demonstrate Delaware North’s goodwill, the team also cleaned up the roadside leading into the park.
Delaware North’s team at Australia’s El Questro Wilderness Park has been showing its guest appreciation by rewarding one guest each hour with random acts of kindness and gifts for 100 hours. The 100th guest will receive a baby boab tree that will be planted in the property’s garden with Wildnerness Park Manager Gavin Scott. A commemorative plaque will then immortalize the lucky guest and the tree-planting, forever cementing them in the company’s 100-year legacy. To cap off festivities, the staff participated in a big 100th-anniversary dinner extravaganza.
The Nashville International Airport kicked off its Delaware North 100th-anniversary celebration on Aug. 24. Along with Rebecca Ramsey, assistant director of properties for the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, Delaware North’s team at the airport presented a check of $2,500 to the McGavock High School Beautification Project. McGavock High School is Tennessee’s second largest high school, with 2,400 students. The event was attended by the school’s executive principal, Robbin Wall, School Board Member Anna Shepherd, Councilmen Phil Claiborne, Steve Glover, Larry Hagar, incoming District 14 Chairman Kevin Rhoten, Donelson Gateway Project President Mike Rose and 20 of its students. Newly elected Council Member Jeff Syracuse spearheaded the event and thanked Delaware North for its support and involvement in the community.
The second annual picnic for the company’s associates at Miami Valley Gaming – which Delaware North operates in partnership with Churchill Downs Inc. – also served as another piece of the Southwest Ohio location’s 100th anniversary celebration. Approximately 800 total associates, along with family and friends, participated in festivities on Aug. 25. All attendees had the chance to digest some delicious ice cream and funnel cake, get their faces painted and then show off their skills on some of the many carnival rides and games present at the event. Miami Valley Gaming’s cage manager, Ken Rambo, is pictured at left partaking in one of the picnic’s assortment of fun games.