Delaware North this week unveiled new and exciting culinary options at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia, ahead of the Australian Football League’s 2022 season. The company was appointed the hospitality services partner at the stadium in November.
Launch events throughout the week welcomed Delaware North as a partner and showcased the new, locally focused food and celebrity chefs that will be featured at MCG. Encompassing a best-of-Melbourne approach, the goal is to complement fan favorites and enhance the guest and member experience.
“The Melbourne Cricket Club’s partnership with Delaware North sees the best of Melbourne’s food scene brought into the MCG, creating the perfect marriage between the city’s two loves – sport and food,” said Jennifer Watt, Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) general manager of commercial operations and partnerships. “The MCG is the people’s ground, and we’ve ensured everyone will have access to eat something that they’ll truly love.”
Iconic Melbourne celebrity chef Guy Grossi has created an exclusive menu and experience for the MCC Committee Room restaurant during the lunch service on nonevent days. Alejandro Saravia of Farmer’s Daughters will showcase Victorian produce in the iconic MCC Long Room. The chef will feature expansive grazing plates that focus on the very best of the state’s regional offerings.
Melbourne-loved brands Royal Stacks, Gami Chicken and SPQR Pizza will bring even more distinct flavor to the MCG. Fan favorites chips and pies will still be available alongside the upscale options.
“The changes come after multinational catering conglomerate Delaware North – which has already upped the culinary ante at Marvel Stadium, as well as Melbourne and Olympic parks – was awarded a seven-year contract to manage the MCG’s dining options,” an article in Broadsheet said. “The company has been in business for over 100 years and has an international reputation for swanking up stadium food at worldfamous sporting institutions like Wembley Stadium in London.”
The contract with stadium operator Melbourne Cricket Club will see Delaware North manage the hospitality services at the MCG across event days, non-event days and for all corporate suites and functions.
“Delaware North is thrilled to be partnering with the MCC,” said Gary Brown, managing director of Delaware North Australia. “We look forward to delivering exemplary hospitality experiences to visitors to the MCG, and to providing them with a taste of Melbourne at this iconic location.”
With a capacity of more than 100,000, the MCG is the largest sporting stadium in the Southern Hemisphere. It hosts several Australian Football League (AFL) teams, as well as cricket matches, concerts, other special events and non-event-day functions.
Delaware North is also bringing new service styles and customer-facing technologies to the MCG that have proven highly successful in speeding food and beverage service at sports venues in the United States.
PHOTO CAPTION: Gary Brown (far left), managing director of Delaware North Australia, poses with (from left to right) Guy Grossi, celebrity chef and restaurateur; Jennifer Watt, Melbourne Cricket Club general manager of commercial operations and partnerships; Alejandro Saravia, celebrity chef and restaurateur; and Dani Zeini, founder of Royal Stacks Burgers.