San Diego's PETCO Park, Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field and St. Louis' Busch Stadium noted
BUFFALO, N.Y. (August 8, 2008) – Ballparks at which Delaware North Companies Sportservice provides food and beverage concessions have taken three of the top six spots in a 2008 ranking of the top vegetarian-friendly Major League ballparks.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) recently released its annual ranking after surveying the menus of all 30 Major League ballparks earlier this season.
Among Sportservice venues, the San Diego Padres’ PETCO Park ranked fourth, the Chicago White Sox’ U.S. Cellular Field was fifth and the St. Louis Cardinals’ Busch Stadium was sixth. Two other ballparks at which Sportservice operates ? Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers, and Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers ? received honorable mentions.
"Today’s baseball fans want choices, including traditional ballpark favorites and vegetarian dishes from salads to stir fry," said Sportservice President Rick Abramson. "We’re excited about providing quality vegetarian offerings for all of our fans."
Earlier this season Sportservice expanded its veggie-friendly menu at PETCO Park in partnering with the Padres to launch FriarFit, an initiative targeting young Padres fans to participate in a fitness program and eat healthy at the ballpark.
This is the second time this season Sportservice has achieved recognition for its ballpark menus. In June, Sportservice garnered the top two rankings in a poll of fans about the food served at Major League ballparks conducted by Sports Illustrated magazine. Miller Park captured the top spot, and U.S. Cellular Field placed second. All eight of Sportservice’s Major League ballpark food service operations ranked in the top 20.
This season Sportservice also introduced its own cookbook, Home Plate: From Hot Dog to Haute Cuisine, featuring recipes from many of the ballparks, stadiums and arenas at which it operates.
Sportservice is part of Delaware North Companies, a global leader in hospitality and food service that operates at dozens of sports and entertainment venues, national and state parks, resort hotels and airports.
Among the vegetarian options offered by Sportservice at Major League parks:
PETCO Park (San Diego Padres) — Vegetarian sushi rolls, veggie dogs and burgers, vegetarian taco salad, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit salad, roasted tomato hummus with pita chips, roasted corn, salads and fruit smoothies.
U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox) — Veggie dogs, garden burger, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, vegetarian taco salad, veggie tacos, nachos with salsa, fresh fruit cups, or corn on the cob, frozen bananas.
Busch Stadium (St. Louis Cardinals) — Veggie burgers, fire-roasted veggie burrito with rice and beans, garden fresh salads and wraps, fried artichokes stuffed with cheese, pizza with artichokes and spinach, Asian vegetable stir fry, Thai veggie wrap, whole roasted corn, fresh fruit, gourmet salads, and fresh vegetable plate.
Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers) — Veggie dog, foccacia veggie club sandwich, portobello mushroom foccacia sandwich, veggie wrap, fresh tossed salad, fresh fruit, baked potato cart with steamed broccoli, cheddar cheese, and sour cream toppings, made-to-order pasta, veggie stir fry, Kettle Brau cheese curds battered in Leinenkugle beer, cheese pizza.
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (Texas Rangers) — Veggie burritos, veggie wraps, tomato bruschetta, onion rings, macaroni and cheese, fresh fruit cups, garden fresh salads, corn on the cob, cheese pizza, nachos.
Progressive Field (Cleveland Indians) –Garden burger, cheese pizza, vegetarian sushi, bean burrito, knish (potato spiced with paper and wrapped in dough), veggie wraps, salads, fruit cups, pirogues, corn on the cob, homemade potato salad, pretzels, peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Comerica Park (Detroit Tigers) — Veggie sushi, vegetable stir-fry, vegetable egg roll, fresh baked pretzel, meatless taco salads, roasted Roma quesadillas, butter lettuce salad, Mandarin salad, veggie wrap, fruit cup, veggie tray, garden salads, cole slaw, veggie burgers, cheese pizza, nachos with fresh salsa.
Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati Reds) — Veggie dogs, veggie dogs, vegetarian burritos, vegetarian sushi rolls, edamame, fresh fruit salad, gourmet vegetable salads, peanut butter and jelly sandwich.