Delaware North Companies Sportservice to enhance fan experience at CenturyLink Field
RENTON, Wash. - The Seattle Seahawks, Sounders FC and First & Goal Inc. (FGI) announced today the selection of Delaware North Companies Sportservice, a global leader in sports hospitality, as the new exclusive food and beverage services provider at CenturyLink Field, CenturyLink Field Event Center and the WaMu Theater.
Under a multi-year agreement, Sportservice will manage and operate all general concessions and premium dining at the stadium, home to the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) and numerous concerts and consumer shows.
"We look forward to many new and expanded concessions offerings for our fans in the concourses, club level and suites" said Seahawks, Sounders FC and FGI president Peter McLoughlin.
FGI and Sportservice will work together to develop new hospitality amenities and create destination spaces to allow for new food concepts and increase the number of portable concession carts throughout the facility.
"We are excited about our new partnership with the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders FC and the great FGI organization and are committed to bringing a new level of food and service to some of the best fans in sports," said Rick Abramson, president of Delaware North Companies Sportservice. "Seattle and the Pacific Northwest have an incredible food culture with amazing tastes. As one of the oldest and most respected names in sports food service and hospitality, we are looking forward to improving the overall fan experience with great guest service, innovative cuisine and new menu items bringing that special local flavor to CenturyLink Field."
The company will take over operations at the stadium in early 2013 in preparation for the upcoming Sounders FC season. At that time Sportservice will also begin operating the event center and theater.
Sportservice has developed a strong reputation in the industry for its culinary expertise and innovative concessions concepts. The company's chefs are mentored by Delaware North Corporate Chef Roland Henin, a highly regarded certified master chef who also happens to be a Seattle resident.
In addition, the company's customer service program, GuestPath®, is highly regarded by the teams with which it works, as is its environmental management program, GreenPath®.
Sportservice, part of global hospitality and food service leader Delaware North Companies, is the oldest name in sports hospitality, founded in 1915 in Buffalo, N.Y., when the three young Jacobs brothers began selling concessions at theaters and minor league baseball parks.
Today, through its family of companies, Delaware North Companies manages and provides food and beverage concessions, premium dining, entertainment, lodging, and retail at many large venues and special places. These include sports stadiums, entertainment complexes, national parks, airports, and casinos. Among those locations is Kalaloch Lodge at Olympic National Park in Washington, Yosemite National Park in California and Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa in British Columbia.
Sportservice operates at more than 50 sporting and entertainment venues, including 26 in major professional sports for 28 different franchises. In the NFL, Sportservice operates food and beverage services for the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams, New York Giants, and New York Jets. In the MLS, Sportservice operates food and beverage services for the New York Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City.
Delaware North Companies also operates food and beverage services at some of the premier sports venues in the world outside of the United States, including Wembley Stadium in London and two other top stadiums in the United Kingdom, plus the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Melbourne and Olympic Parks in Australia.
About First & Goal Inc.
First & Goal Inc. (FGI) was formed by Paul G. Allen in 1997 after voters in Washington State approved the proposal to build a new Football/Soccer Stadium and Exhibition Center. FGI was the private partner in the development along with the public partner, the Public Stadium Authority. FGI now serves as the operator of facility.
About Delaware North Companies Sportservice
Delaware North Companies Sportservice is one of the nation's leading food, beverage and retail management companies. Sportservice provides concessions, gourmet catering and fine dining operations at more than 50 professional sporting venues, entertainment complexes and convention centers across the United States and Canada. Sportservice is the provider of choice for an impressive client roster, including the World Series, the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball's All-Star games, Stanley Cup Championships and the Olympic Games. For more than 90 years, Sportservice has demonstrated that it knows what it takes to effectively develop, operate and manage multi-faceted kitchens, restaurants, suites, fine dining and retail facilities in order to meet the changing demands of today's fans. From introducing new healthy, organic food selections and creative cuisine for twists on the traditional fare, Sportservice continues to innovate and enhance the fan experience. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.
About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the largest privately held hospitality companies in the world. Founded and owned by the Jacobs family for nearly 100 years, it is a global leader in hospitality and food service. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner of TD Garden. Delaware North Companies has revenue exceeding $2.6 billion annually and 55,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.
