Delaware North Sportservice Expanding Food Network Offerings in New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, Carolina, Cleveland, Buffalo and Chicago
NEW YORK and BUFFALO, N.Y. (Sept.7, 2011) – Food Network and Delaware North Companies Sportservice are urging all fans to cheer with their mouths full as they introduce a Food Network signature Pub-style Beef Brisket sandwich – plus additional Pub-Style brisket sandwiches celebrating local flavors – at select National Football League stadiums this season.
Last season, Food Network menu items were served in premium areas of football stadiums where Sportservice operates food and beverage services. Now the Pub-Style brisket sandwiches and other menu items such as a Spicy Beer Cheese Dog and Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese represent further growth for Food Network in general concessions at stadiums.
“Food Network recognizes that hearty fans have hearty appetites,” said Sergei Kuharsky, general manager of Food Network’s new business enterprises. “Bringing our partnership with Delaware North Companies to the general concession level in NFL stadiums allows us to deepen Food Network’s relationship with viewers who have always wanted to taste what they see us serve up on TV, online and in our magazine.”
The Food Network signature Pub-Style Beef Brisket will feature Porter-braised beef brisket topped with cheddar cheese, whole grain mustard and fried onions on a pretzel roll. It will be available at five stadiums: MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for the New York Giants and New York Jets; in the club level at Edward Jones Dome in St Louis; at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland; at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, and at Soldier Field in Chicago. Additionally, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Food Network will feature a bratwurst with these signature toppings.
At each of the five stadiums, Sportservice will also serve a Food Network Pub-Style Beef Brisket sandwich reflecting the tastes of that region: New York/New Jersey’s will be topped with pepperoncini and smoked mozzarella on a pretzel roll; St Louis’s version will have provel cheese and Red Hot Riplets on a pretzel roll; the Cleveland sandwich is topped with potato pancake, caramelized onion, horseradish sour cream and stadium mustard on a pretzel roll; Buffalo fans can savor buffalo hot sauce, blue cheese and sliced celery on a pretzel roll; and the Chicago sandwich is topped with Giardiniera, sharp provolone and celery-seed and sport pepper mayonnaise on a pretzel roll. Also, Carolina fans can enjoy a unique take on a bratwurst, which is topped with local favorites, pimento cheese and green tomato relish on a pretzel roll.
“We’re very excited about these new Food Network brisket sandwiches because Delaware North Sportservice is dedicated to providing fans with unique and delicious food as part of their experience at the games,” said Richard Dobransky, Sportservice’s vice president of food and beverage.
Delaware North and Food Network, one of the most popular lifestyle networks on television, began their partnership in 2010. Since then, they have developed new menu, restaurant and retail concepts for the hospitality and food service provider’s locations across North America, including major professional sports venues and airports.
In the first phase of the multiyear partnership, Food Network’s team of chefs, from the Food Network Kitchens in New York, created signature dishes for suite menus in the Major League ballparks at which Sportservice operates. This season, the Food Network lineup in ballparks was expanded to general concessions with signature and regional steak sandwiches.
Last fall, Food Network and Sportservice also introduced dishes in premium areas at several National Football League stadiums, including MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, as well as at several National Hockey League and National Basketball Association arenas. Some of the favorite dishes along with delicious new ones will once again be available in the premium areas that Sportservice operates.
In the partnership, Food Network develops the menu items and provides training, brand standards and marketing support while Delaware North provides the key infrastructure, building and operating new restaurant and retail concepts and preparing and serving the menu. All food, beverage and retail concepts developed as a result of the partnership carry the Food Network brand.