Innovation. Growth. Celebration. Those were just a few of the words that came to describe a year full of highlights for Delaware North.
The year kicked off with Delaware North Chairman Jeremy Jacobs announcing that his sons had been appointed to CEO positions, with Jerry Jacobs Jr. and Lou Jacobs as Co-CEOs at the company’s global headquarters in Buffalo, N.Y., and Charlie Jacobs taking on the role of CEO of Delaware North’s Boston Holdings.
Toward the end of the first quarter, Jerry Jacobs Jr. and Lou Jacobs announced the establishment of the Office of the Chief Executive, featuring top-level executives Rick Abramson (executive vice president and chief operating officer), Chris Feeney (executive vice president and chief financial officer), Rajat Shah (executive vice president, external affairs, general counsel and secretary) and Chuck Moran, the longtime company president who is retiring at year’s end.
As it has in years past, Delaware North experienced growth in 2015, with expansion across its regional gaming, sports, travel hospitality, parks and lodging operations. Among many highlights were the additions of the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Chargers as clients for Delaware North Sportservice, while the company’s United Kingdom operation was bolstered with a long-term catering deal at The Stadium in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Delaware North’s travel hospitality business continued adding innovation and variety to the airport-dining landscape, while also adding new clients, including the Tampa International Airport.
Delaware North also expanded its presence in its hometown. In November, Delaware North moved into its new global headquarters – a sparkling, 12-story, glass-walled building on the corner of Delaware Avenue and Chippewa Street in downtown Buffalo. The building – among Buffalo’s most innovative – will soon boast two firsts for the city: a Westin hotel (The Westin Buffalo, operated by Delaware North) and a restaurant by Patina Restaurant Group, which became part of Delaware North in May 2014.
The new global headquarters, however, was hardly the lone news-worthy event of the year for the Jacobs family and Delaware North. In September, Delaware North Chairman Jeremy Jacobs, his wife, Margaret, and their family gave $30 million to the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences – a historic gift as the school undergoes an ambitious period of expansion that will enable it to pursue innovative medical education, research an patient care. About two months later, the Jacobs family provided a $1 million gift to the Explore & More Children’s Museum for its capital campaign to build a new museum at Canalside on the Buffalo waterfront.
And certainly, 2015 was a year of great celebration across the board for Delaware North. At locations around the world for a 100-day period (spanning August-December), Delaware North associates celebrated the company’s 100th anniversary with the various communities, partners and guests. Relive some of those experiences by checking out the Delaware North YouTube page, which features 16 videos highlighting the celebrations.
In Boston, 2015 was certainly a year to remember – with a pair of milestones to celebrate. At the Delaware North-owned-and-operated TD Garden, associates came together not only to celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary but also the venue’s 20th birthday. But unlike some venues, TD Garden is hardly showing its age at 20 – thanks in large part to its recent $70 million renovation.