Delaware North Sportservice Expanding Food Network Offerings in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Texas, St. Louis, Milwaukee, San Diego, Baltimore and Minnesota
NEW YORK and BUFFALO, N.Y. (March 23, 2011) – Food Network and Delaware North Companies Sportservice are introducing a Food Network signature steak sandwich – plus additional steak sandwiches celebrating local flavors – in concessions at select Major League ballparks this season.
Last season, Food Network menu items were served in premium areas of ballparks where Sportservice operates food and beverage services, but the steak sandwiches represent the first foray for Food Network in general concessions at ballparks.
“Food Network is all about feeding people’s passions in fun and interesting places,” said Sergei Kuharsky, general manager of Food Network’s new business enterprises. “Taking this partnership with Delaware North Companies to the general concession level in Major League ballparks allows us the ideal platform 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 Red, White & Blue Steak Sandwich will be served on a French demi baguette and topped with Maytag blue cheese and sweet and spicy Peppadew-pepper mayonnaise. It will be available at eight ballparks: Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Progressive Field in Cleveland, Comerica Park in Detroit, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Texas, Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Miller Park in Milwaukee, Petco Park in San Diego, and Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.
At each of the eight ballparks, Sportservice will also serve a Food Network steak sandwich reflecting the tastes of that region: Cincinnati,topped with a bourbon-spiked BBQ sauce and smoked cheddar cheese; Cleveland’s version with sauerkraut and Bertman’s brown Polish mustard; Detroit featuring tangy banana pepper mayonnaise and feta cheese; Texas sandwich topped with a smoky charred salsa verde; St. Louis fans can savor St. Louis-style BBQ sauce and cheddar cheese; the Milwaukee sandwich doused with sharp and hoppy beer cheese; San Diego topped with spicy Kimchi and a touch of mayonnaise; and the Baltimore served with a special Old Bay-infused steak sauce. All versions will be served on a French demi baguette.
At a ninth ballpark, Target Field in Minnesota, fans will enjoy two Food Network takes on the highly-popular Kramarczuk’s sausage already served by Sportservice: a smoked bratwurst with horseradish cream and a wild rice bratwurst with pickled red cabbage and beer mustard.
“Delaware North Sportservice is adding these creative and delicious Food Network items to our broad concessions menus so all of our guests can enjoy them,” Sportservice President Rick Abramson said. “With these steak sandwiches, fans are getting both the sizzle and substance while connecting to the experience of Food Network and eating great food at the ballpark.”
Delaware North and Food Network, one of the most popular lifestyle networks on television, began their partnership in March 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, airports and other destinations such as Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
In the first phase of the multiyear partnership, Food Network’s team of chefs created signature dishes for suite menus in the Major League ballparks at which Sportservice operates. Those and other signature dishes are returning to suite menus in 2011, along with the new concession items.
In the fall, Food Network and Sportservice also introduced dishes in premium areas at several National Football League stadiums, including New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey, as well as at several National Hockey League arenas this season.
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.