In 2024, Delaware North’s global enterprise hit significant milestones, celebrated new business, participated in unforgettable events and made meaningful charitable impacts. All of this was possible because of our team members’ dedication to providing exceptional experiences and serving our guests and communities.
Here’s a look back at some of the top stories highlighting the year:
Giving back is a longstanding tradition at Delaware North
The company’s corporate social responsibility is driven by Our People, Our Planet and Our Communities, and team members also organize and participate in volunteerism.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo received a $500,000 donation from Delaware North and the Jacobs family in 2024 to foster more organized sports for its five clubhouses.
In August, Delaware North CEO Jerry Jacobs Jr. was joined by Delaware North team members and members of the community for the ceremonial opening of a new baseball field at the Seneca-Babcock Clubhouse, providing new opportunities for local youth to engage in essential team-building activities.
Delaware North committed $1 million, in addition to a dollar-for-dollar match of the first $250,000 raised from the FeedMore Western New York (WNY) 2024 capital campaign cochaired by CEO Lou Jacobs, who also serves on its board of directors. FeedMore WNY assists with hunger relief throughout the community, and in October broke ground on a centralized 74-acre site in Hamburg, N.Y.
The Boston Bruins and the Boston Bruins Foundation hosted the foundation’s 20th anniversary in March during a home game, celebrating 20 years of collaboration with charitable organizations and a shared vision to better the Boston community. The Boston Bruins Foundation has raised more than $69 million since its inception.
In June, Delaware North CEO and Boston Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs was honored by The 200 Foundation, a Boston-based nonprofit organization that provides grants to human services organizations. Jacobs, who founded and chairs the Boston Bruins Foundation, was recognized for his philanthropic impact of promoting education, health, wellness and athletics throughout Boston and New England.
The company’s Gaming locations supported many different charitable efforts and community organizations throughout the year, especially during the holidays (see this and the Dec. 23 editions of 360). Among the highlights were Southland Casino Hotel’s
donation of $1.7 million to the City of West Memphis for development of a new animal shelter, and Gate City Casino’s ongoing support of dozens of organizations under the state’s charitable gaming regulations and participation in the United Way of Greater Nashua’s Over the Edge Fundraiser in June.
The Gaming division’s Game Changer program in which patrons at several gaming locations donate leftover change on their casino vouchers raised tens of thousands of dollars for various organizations.
Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour sweeps through Delaware North locations
The 21-month Eras Tour brought Taylor Swift to venues across the globe, including sold-out shows at stadiums at which Delaware North operates: MetLife Stadium in the U.S. (one performance in 2023), the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia (three performances in 2024) and Wembley Stadium in the U.K. (eight performances in 2024). Delaware North teams at Wembley Stadium and the MCG offered fan activations, including food and beverage specials, to enhance the experience.
Swift’s Australian performances drew a record crowd of 288,000 fans, also marking the debut of Delaware North retail services at the iconic MCG. Swift wrapped up the European leg of her tour at Wembley Stadium, with the star’s eighth Wembley show setting the overall record for the most nights at the venue on a single tour.
Solar eclipse brings thousands of people together for special events
Several Delaware North locations were in the path of totality of the rare solar eclipse on April 8 in the United States, and special events united people for the once-in-a-generation celestial phenomenon.
Progressive Field in Cleveland, where Delaware North is the foodservice partner, welcomed baseball fans and astronomy enthusiasts for a viewing party just before the Cleveland Guardians’ Opening Day game. Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills and where Delaware North operates foodservice, hosted a private party and a community event for nearly 2,000 spectators. Delaware North Parks and Resorts teams at Niagara Falls State Park in New York, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida and The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake in Ohio also offered special activities for visitors and guests, while corporate headquarters team members and guests of Patina 250 in Buffalo enjoyed a viewing party with eclipse-themed food and beverages.
Technology advancements improve speed of service
Wembley Stadium in London debuted Bar Tap – the first of its kind in a European national stadium – during the Feb. 25 Carabao Cup Final. The frictionless bar allows fans to purchase drinks quickly and conveniently while reducing wait times so they can return to the action faster than ever.
In the States, Globe Life Field introduced ADAM the robotic bartender just in time for the MLB All-Star Game. The first-of-its-kind technology from Richtech Robotics at a major league sports arena or large-scale entertainment venue combines AI, advanced
sensors and two robotic arms, serving cocktails and mocktails alongside a team of human bartenders. In the Travel division, Costa Coffee Creations debuted two updated locations at AustinBergstrom International Airport in Texas, allowing travelers to customize hot or iced coffee beverages without any need for human interaction. Visitors to certain national parks are also now able to use self-checkout technology to pay for food and retail merchandise at Delaware North operations.
Delaware North appoints new executive vice president, chief human resources officer
Delaware North welcomed Ana Rodriguez as executive vice president (EVP) and chief human resources officer in December. Rodriguez brings extensive experience in strategic leadership, corporate and board governance, organizational transformation and succession planning, joining Delaware North from Monogram Foods in Memphis, where she most recently held the role of EVP and chief people officer.
Team Member Resource Groups support a sense of belonging
Delaware North officially launched Team Member Resource Groups (TMRGs) in 2024 to enhance its Employee Value Proposition of fostering purpose, growth and connection. These voluntary, employee-led groups are open to all team members and aim to foster additional development and engagement opportunities. The inaugural TMRGs in North America include the Black Employee Network, Be You (LGBTQA+ and allies), RISE (women and allies; Resilience, Impact, Support, Empowerment), HOLA (Hispanic and Latinx Organization for Leadership and Advancement) and the Veterans Network.
‘Bee the Difference’ campaign blossoms for Earth Month, World Bee Day
Through the second-annual “Bee the Difference” campaign (April 1-May 20), Delaware North donated $21,000 to The Bee Cause Project to continue the organization’s critical mission of inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards while protecting the planet’s pollinators. Delaware North offered two bee-themed cocktails and educational interactive augmented reality experiences at more than 100 U.S. locations.
GreenPath® sustainability program celebrates 25th anniversary
Delaware North celebrated the 25th anniversary of its proprietary environmental stewardship and sustainability program, GreenPath®, with programming and events to recall its historic and recent achievements. The celebration began during Earth Month in April with dozens of Delaware North locations hosting volunteering events. Several GreenPath champions were highlighted in 360, virtual events were hosted on pollinator protection, plant-based culinary trends and food waste best practices, and a new sustainability roadmap and GreenPath video were created.
Workday goes global
Delaware North’s best-in-class people management system, Workday, was launched in Australia, New Zealand and the U.K. in 2024, following the 2023 launch in North America. All team members can now access its easy-to-use, mobile-friendly platform.
Through cross-functional collaboration of teams around the globe, the Workday implementation synchronizes many of the company’s systems and processes.
The Boston Bruins Centennial celebration
The Boston Bruins, owned by Delaware North Chairman Jeremy Jacobs, celebrated their Centennial season in 2023-24 with the theme “Blood, Sweat & 100 Years.” The Bruins’ award-winning Centennial campaign united fans, alumni and team members to celebrate the team’s rich history and lay the groundwork for the next 100 years of Bruins hockey. Noteworthy events and initiatives included the Centennial Takeoff Fashion Show (September 2023), Heritage Homecoming Week and the Centennial Gala
(October 2023), Era Nights celebrations throughout the season, the opening of Heritage Hall (March 2024), Centennial Fan Fest Tour & 100 Days of Hockey campaign and the Boston Bruins Centennial Game weekend Nov. 29-Dec. 1 that featured the Centennial Monument unveiling, Fan Fest and historic Centennial Game. In addition, company-owned-and-operated TD Garden debuted arena enhancements, commemorative jerseys and merchandise collections, food and beverage specials and more.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground team scores big at AFL Grand Final
At the 2024 Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final on Sept. 28, Delaware North served up unforgettable culinary and hospitality experiences for the 100,000 passionate fans who packed the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to witness the Brisbane Lions’ win over the Sydney Swans. The final series of games at the MCG drew more than 290,000 fans, bringing the season’s total MCG attendance to more than 3.1 million. Delaware North pulled out all the stops, offering fan favorites and premium selections across more than 100 concessions and exclusive areas. Click here to watch a video highlighting leaders and team members who discuss Delaware North’s hospitality and retail operations at the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere.
Delaware North adds merchandise contract in Australia
In October, Delaware North was appointed the official merchandise partner of the Collingwood Football Club. The Melbourne suburb-based team, which has played in a record 45 Victorian Football League/Australian Football League Grand Finals, winning 16, plays at the MCG, where Delaware North operates food, beverage and retail merchandise services. The new contract was the second for Delaware North Australia’s dedicated merchandising division.
Delaware North UK scores with the UEFA Champions League Final
Delaware North U.K. regularly gears up for massive events at Wembley Stadium, with the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Champions League Final in June being one of the largest to date. With 90,000 fans in attendance, 2024 was the eighth time the London venue hosted the match – more than any other European stadium.
MLB, NFL games bring a taste of America to the UK
Delaware North’s team at London Stadium in June hosted the Major League Baseball World Tour: London Series, bringing a taste of the true ballpark experience through a blend of authentic American fare and classic British cuisine. The highly anticipated event, featuring a matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets, combined British menu offerings with a range of specialty and classic American ballpark food items, sourcing approximately 80% of all ingredients locally. Delaware North U.K. served nearly nearly 87,000 fans at the October NFL game at Wembley Stadium in London. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the New England Patriots, and Delaware North U.K. delivered elevated gameday eats, including fresh seafood, BBQ platters and even a signature drink, the Jagarita. Click here to watch video highlights of the top-notch hospitality during the Wembley Stadium NFL game.
Catawba Nation breaks ground on $700 million casino resort
The Catawba Nation, a Delaware North client since 2019, on June 7 celebrated the start of construction on a $700 million casino resort in Kings Mountain, N.C., near Charlotte. Delaware North is a key consultant on the Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort project – planned to open in two phases beginning in early 2026 with 4,300 gaming machines, 100 table games, restaurants, bars and a 400-room hotel – and has assisted in operating the nation’s temporary casino since it opened in 2021. Delaware North CEO Lou Jacobs spoke at the groundbreaking, which was also attended by Brian Hansberry, group president for Gaming, and other Delaware North executives.
Southland praise, poker tourneys, festivals among Gaming highlights
The Gaming division was busy on many fronts in 2024, including adding a new president, Jason Gregorec, and other executive team leaders. Southland Casino Hotel in Arkansas was among locations holding successful festivals (along with Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack) and continued to garner praise as a superregional gaming destination in the Mid-South, including from a Texas writer who called it “Vegas with a soul” and an ideal location to explore nearby Memphis, Tenn. Daytona Beach and Orange City Racing and Card Clubs held several major poker tournaments, including a $600,000, 16-trophy Moneymaker Poker Tour.
Patina Restaurant Group debuts new concepts with Michelin-starred chef
In May, Delaware North’s Patina Restaurant Group celebrated the grand opening of three new Mexican concepts – Paseo, Céntrico and Tiendita – in the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort in California. Delaware North CEO Jerry Jacobs Jr., company leaders and Disney representatives attended the unveiling of the highly anticipated concepts in partnership with Carlos Gaytán, the first Mexican-born chef to receive a Michelin star. Paseo was lauded by Yelp! as one of its top “10 Best New
Restaurants of 2024.”
Delaware North secures 10-year extension with PGA of America
Patina Restaurant Group announced a 10-year contract extension with the PGA of America to cater several of the nation’s top golf events through 2034. Patina, which entered the golf hospitality sector in 2021, will continue as the official catering partner at annual events such as the PGA Championship, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championship. Patina will also cater the 2025 Ryder Cup (Bethpage Black on Long Island), 2029 Ryder Cup (Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.) and 2033 Ryder Cup (the Olympic Club’s Lake Course in San Francisco.)
F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix marks new market of motorsports hospitality
Delaware North’s Patina Restaurant Group made its motorsports hospitality debut at the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Nov. 21-23, serving about 125,000 fans across four Fan Zones. Led by Patina Catering with support from various company divisions, the
team delivered a rotating, all-inclusive menu featuring the Farro Mediterranean Bowl, Mushroom Tinga Taco and the innovative Baffle™ – a burger pressed in a waffle maker. Click here for food and beverage highlights from the 2024 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Tenaya at Yosemite debuts remodeled rooms and new guest amenities
Tenaya at Yosemite, Delaware North’s full-service resort located just outside of Yosemite National Park in California, in July completed a 244-room remodel and lobby renovation in its main lodge, along with the addition of new guest amenities. With design inspiration drawn from the Arts and Crafts Movement of the 1900s and the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the remodel creates a tranquil haven for guests featuring elegant furnishings, soft textures and a palette of soothing, earthy colors.
The resort’s new guest amenities include a pickleball court, a bocce ball court, an 18-foot rock-climbing wall and dedicated canine play area, along with an increased number of park shuttles to complement its Yosemite 360 all-day tours.
Record 93 rocket launches help fuel KSCVC
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which Delaware North operates for NASA in Florida, was a key location for thousands of people viewing a record 93 rocket launches in 2024 from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, surpassing the previous record of 72 launches in 2023. Many launches were supported for viewing from the main campus and some also for add-on ticketed viewing at the Apollo/Saturn V Center and the LC-39 Observation Gantry. The gantry is being reimagined to open in early 2025 as a new attraction celebrating space exploration and Earth’s future.
The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake celebrates 20 years of welcoming guests
The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake, located in Geneva, Ohio, in May celebrated its 20th anniversary at a party featuring live music, culinary offerings and thoughtful speeches from Delaware North and Ashtabula County representatives on the property’s impact
on the local community, including tourism.
Scott Socha, group president of Delaware North Parks and Resorts, Travel and Australia, noted how the collaborative partnership between Delaware North and the county was a key part of the lodge’s success and growth, which has included the addition of 25 Cape Cod-style cottages and enhancements to the outdoor pool and recreation area. Several Delaware North team members were also recognized during the celebration for their long tenure with the company.
Delaware North shines during All-Star Week at Globe Life Field
Delaware North delivered a fan experience worthy of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week festivities at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, in July. From freshly prepared poke bowls and onsite smoked brisket to grilled steak sandwiches, street tacos, premium club offerings, a vast selection of merchandise and even a robotic bartender, guests delighted in an array of innovative offerings that delighted attendees of baseball’s Midsummer Classic. Team members from across all subsidiaries pitched in to make it a memorable event. Click here to watch a video of the highlights. Next up: All-Star Game 2025 at Truist Park in Atlanta!
Sportservice hits a home run with the 2024 Little League Baseball World Series
Little League International in 2024 expanded its partnership with Delaware North Sportservice, which has managed its concessions operations since 2002, to include its new retail flagship store at the Little League International Complex and home of the Little League Baseball World Series in South Williamsport, Pa. The store opened in August, just in time for the 2024 Little League Baseball World Series. As a nonprofit organization, Little League International’s retail operations, both at the complex and at ShopLittleLeague.org, further help to support the organization’s purpose of positively impacting youth and communities.
Hockey fans embrace the cold at NHL Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium
Delaware North, hospitality and retail partner at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., unveiled specialty activations and menu additions for the Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series, hosted in February. The series showcased games between the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers, followed by the New York Rangers against the New York Islanders – the first instance of consecutive outdoor NHL games at the same venue in front of fans. The Delaware North team provided hockey fans with exciting food, beverage and retail offerings.
Travel division celebrates big wins in 2024, looks forward to 2025
Delaware North’s Travel division in 2024 celebrated major wins at the Atlanta, Detroit and Boise airports. The extensions expand Delaware North’s presence at these major airports and will include a mix of local concepts and national brands. New outlets will be completed throughout 2025, along with a number of exciting additions at Austin, Charleston, Tulsa and Fort Lauderdale airports.
Fort Lauderdale, Charleston, Tulsa airports bring new options for travelers
Charleston International Airport, where Delaware North Travel operates food and beverage services, in 2024 celebrated the opening of the subsidiary’s first Starbucks (the first for Delaware North’s Travel division), as well as a proprietary concept, Ashley Cooper Provisions, later in the year. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport opened three concepts in a food court-style area over the summer: Dunkin’, Pollo Tropical and BurgerFi. Meanwhile in Tulsa, Okla., a new Schlotzsky’s featuring Cinnabon opened for travelers.