The 2019 National Hockey League season is here, and Delaware North Sportservice is ready to serve hockey fans more than just pizza and hot dogs.
KeyBank Center delivers twist on classic items
Concession stands at KeyBank Center, home of the Buffalo Sabres, will offer fans a great mix of old and new this season. Executive chef Stephen Forman’s new Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip Burger and Smoke and Whiskey Hot Dog are great examples of turning a regular menu item into something a little more exciting.
“We are not getting rid of items like pizza and hot dogs, but what we created are culinary extensions,” the executive chef at KeyBank Center told Buffalo Business First. “Our goal is to serve the fans and get them back to their seats. That’s critical.”
Other new items include Bakery 55 cinnamon rolls, a roasted turkey sandwich and a new concept – Market on Perry Street – which will be a grab-and-go option for fans.
Bridgestone Arena offers sweet and savory dishes
The culinary team at Bridgestone Arena, home of the Nashville Predators, is all about the pretzels this year. New to the menu are the Braided Pretzel Pull-A-Part (braided pretzel sticks with marinara, cheese and pepperoni) and Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Nuggets (bitesized pretzels coated in cinnamon sugar and served with vanilla cream cheese icing).
Fans looking for something a little more filling can find the Chicken Chorizo Tamale Pie (sweet cornbread topped with chicken, chorizo, ranchero sauce and cheddar jack cheese) and the new Slab Bacon Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese on the main concourse.
Amalie Arena debuts redesigned concession stands
Delaware North has been the official hospitality partner at the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Amalie Arena since 1992, and this season the design kitchens have been renovated to speed up the ordering process. The majority of serving stations are now below counter height to maximize natural light, and each stand will have multiple digital menu boards.
Carlos Bernal, president of Delaware North Sportservice, spoke to Front Office Sports about the changes and adding more local options:
While Budweiser and Miller products are still popular, Bernal said fans are looking more toward local and regional offerings in both food and beverage. He doesn’t see that trend of incorporating local and regional brands into concession offerings ending anytime soon.