SEATTLE (Oct. 7, 2021) – When Climate Pledge Arena officially opens its doors later this month, there will be several firsts—including the in-arena debut of Big Chicken, the quick-service restaurant concept developed by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.
Seattle’s brand-new arena, home to the NHL’S Seattle Kraken, WNBA Seattle Storm, and live music and entertainment, is building a unique food and beverage program, the Climate Collective, to create a delicious, innovative and sustainable culinary experience for guests.
The Big Chicken brand is growing fast with standalone locations in Las Vegas, Glendale, Calif., and on Carnival’s Mardi Gras ship.
“Big Chicken and the Kraken are in the same place right now—experienced veterans starting a new team while driving an incredible fan experience,” said Josh Halpern, Big Chicken CEO. “We are privileged to partner with Delaware North to bring our restaurant with its exclusive Kraken sandwich to the city of Seattle.”
Offerings include specialty crispy chicken sandwiches such as The Kraken (Buffalo sauce, cream cheese and blue cheese), M.D.E. Chicken (Shaq Sauce, chicken breast and B&B Pickles) and Uncle Jerome (Nashville hot chicken, mayo and pickles), along with chicken tenders, an assortment of candies, sundries and packaged beverages.
The Big Chicken outlet at Climate Pledge Arena will feature Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology and Amazon One, where guests can insert their credit card at the location’s entry gates to shop or hover their palm over an Amazon One device to enter. Once inside, guests can take what they want and then just leave after they’re done shopping. As they shop, Just Walk Out technology determines what they take from or return to the shelves, and the credit card they inserted or linked to their Amazon One ID will be charged for items they took after they leave the store.
“We are thrilled to welcome Shaquille O’Neal to Climate Pledge Arena,” said Steve Mattson, general manager of Climate Pledge Arena. “He knows what makes a good arena and how to enhance the fan experience with food and fun. Big Chicken is a great addition to our amazing food program, and I look forward to guests enjoying Shaq’s first Seattle location at Climate Pledge Arena.”
The Big Chicken location at Climate Pledge Arena will be operated by foodservice partner Delaware North, which manages hospitality services at nearly 50 sports and entertainment venues worldwide.
“When we first met with the Big Chicken team, we were immediately impressed by their thoroughness and commitment to chef-driven quality,” said Jamie Obletz, president of Delaware North’s sports division. “The culinary team behind the scenes at Big Chicken is above and beyond industry standards, and we’re excited to continue exploring opportunities for growth with this group.”
Photo Caption: NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, who developed Big Chicken, and Molly De Mers, executive chef for Delaware North at Climate Pledge Arena, speak with media on Oct. 7 in Seattle. Photo Credit: Seattle Kraken.
ABOUT BIG CHICKEN
Big Chicken is a craft-casual restaurant that is larger than life, much like its founder NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, serving up Big Flavor, Big Food, Big Fun with every order. O’Neal and JRS Hospitality, created the concept with the intent to provide only the best ingredients combined with bold flavors and prompt service in a modern unrushed environment. The menu includes signature chicken sandwiches, sauces and celebrated sides to decadent milkshakes and ice cream sandwiches. Current locations include: Big Chicken Las Vegas, located just off the Las Vegas Strip across from the new Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, offers diners a full-service bar, late-night hours, a backyard-style gaming area and convenient online ordering. Big Chicken Glendale, opened in early 2020 at 252 South Brand, across from The Americana at Brand. Big Chicken is also available for shipping nationwide via Goldbelly. Carnival guests may now enjoy a seagoing version of the restaurant on Carnival Mardi Gras and beginning in December 2021, also on the Carnival Radiance. To keep up with everything Big Chicken, download the mobile app, follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @BigChickenShaq, or visit bigchicken.com.
About Delaware North
Delaware North is a global hospitality and entertainment company founded in 1915 and owned by the Jacobs family for more than 100 years. Delaware North operates at high-profile places such as sports and entertainment venues, national and state parks, cultural landmarks, destination resorts and restaurants, airports, and regional casinos. Our associates are dedicated to delighting guests by creating the world’s best experiences. Delaware North serves millions of guests each year in the sports, travel hospitality, restaurant and catering, lodging, gaming, and specialty retail industries. Learn more about Delaware North at www.DelawareNorth.com.
About Climate Pledge Arena
Climate Pledge Arena, located at Seattle Center is complete redevelopment of an historic landmark, originally built for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. It is an industry first, including being the first net zero certified arena in the world. Home to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, WNBA's Seattle Storm, and the world's biggest performers of live music and events, Climate Pledge Arena opens October 22, 2021. Climate Pledge Arena will serve as a long-lasting and regular reminder of the urgent need for climate action. The Climate Pledge, which was founded by Amazon and Global Optimism in 2019, is a commitment from companies globally to be net zero carbon by 2040. Visit climatepledgearena.com