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Through a variety of innovative programs and opportunities, Aramark Sports + Entertainment, the award-winning food and beverage provider at seven National Hockey League (NHL) and National Basketball Association (NBA) arenas, is committed to providing a platform for culinarians to reach and engage with their communities through food. Recognizing that local restaurants and the people behind them are the heart of our communities, Aramark partners with local chefs and restaurants to bring authentic, diverse flavors to basketball and hockey fans across North America.
Each season, Aramark enhances its hospitality offerings with new menu items and local culinary partnerships that bring the tastes of home to the arena. This initiative not only showcases the rich culinary heritage of each market but also underscores Aramark’s dedication to positively impacting the communities it serves and spotlighting its local talent.
Whether through the Launch Test Kitchen, launched in 2015 as a forward-thinking approach to dining at sports and entertainment venues that invites real-time feedback from guests to shape menu offerings, or signature programs like the Spurs Culinary Residency Program, which highlights local and minority-owned restaurants in the San Antonio area, Aramark is passionate about local flavor and community impact.
Launch Test Kitchen
Featuring a rotating selection based on food trends and customer preferences, Launch Test Kitchen is a testament to Aramark’s innovative guest experience research and culinary development. This real-life “test kitchen” allows everything from the menu to the equipment and overall aesthetic to transform from event to event.
The flexibility and customization of Launch Test Kitchen enables food and beverage concepts to be easily rotated throughout a sports season or for specific periods. Each location includes a guest feedback component to identify the most popular items. Those with overwhelming popularity may be added to a venue’s permanent menu, while the core menu is continually refreshed with new ideas and items.
This season, new Launch Test Kitchen concepts are launching throughout Aramark’s portfolio including robust programs at venues like SAP Center and Capital One Arena:
SAP Center
SAP Center, home of the San Jose Sharks, will offer a robust program this season with rotating restaurants and culinary concepts from the Bay Area.
“When selecting restaurants for the season, I take pride in having as much variety as possible to provide our guests,” said Jordan Gitter, Director of Concessions at SAP Center. “There are no limits to where we search, as long as they reside and serve the Bay Area. And this program allows us to gauge from guest feedback if restaurants have the potential to be full-season partner with us in the future."
Among the offerings that will be featured in the months ahead at Launch Test Kitchen locations in Sections 113 and 209:
·Flor De Pineapple: Started in 2022 in San Jose by Head Chefs Heladio and Aldo to offer a fusion Cali-Mex that always uses the best seasoned ingredients.
·Kabob Trölley: Serving Afghan fusion halal cuisine with a Bay Area twist, blending traditional Afghan flavors with innovative, local ingredients.
·Macarena: A celebration of Mediterranean cuisine blending the bounty of the sea and land. Rooted in the vibrant culinary traditions of Spain, the restaurant focuses on fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create dishes that embody the rich flavors of the Mediterranean region.
·Mayan Kitchen: Specializing in Mayan cuisine inspired by generational family recipes.
·Nuevas Generaciones Taqueria: Dedicated to serving authentic Comida Mexicana with a twist, using new cooking techniques mixed in with traditional recipes.
·Pasta Amore: The first pasta food truck in the Bay Area using traditional Italian sauces with a Mexican twist.
·Shrimp'n Ain't Eazy: Local food truck based out of eastside San Jose specializing in shrimp and chorizo.
·Vietnoms: Established in 2018 in downtown San Jose, Vietnoms serves up authentic Vietnamese food with modern flair.
Capital One Arena
Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Capitals and Wizards, is expanding its food and beverage lineup this season to feature several partners from the Washington metropolitan area. One standout culinary offering will make its debut at the venue’s Launch Test Kitchen:
·PhoWheels (Section 105): Traditional Vietnamese food delivered in a modern interpretation with menu items including the Bahn mi sandwich (chicken, pork belly, and beef), chicken egg rolls, and a variety of tacos (chicken, pork belly, and beef).
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From Launch Test Kitchen to Permanent Concession Stand
Those with overwhelming popularity may be added to a venue’s permanent menu, while the core menu is continually refreshed with new ideas and items. Several local partnerships that launched at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse – the first Aramark Sports + Entertainment venue to introduce the program – are now permanent fixtures in the arena. Examples that were born out of stints in the Launch Test Kitchen and showcase the successful transition from temporary concepts to established dining options include Pearl’s Kitchen by Chef Tiwanna Williams; Rocco’s by Chef Rocco Whalen; Flour Pizza Co. by Chef Matt Mytro; Bandito’s by Chef Fabio Salerno; Sauce the City by Chef Victor Searcy; and P Street Market Café by Chef Karen Small.
Culinary Residency Programs
The Spurs Culinary Residency, presented by Coca-Cola, is a prime example of a venue-specific concept that highlights local and minority-owned restaurants.
This season at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, the following selected restaurants will showcase their dishes at two concession stands in the H-E-B Fan Zone and North Frost Club throughout the season.
· DonutNV
Eleven of the 12 restaurants were selected by Aramark’s partners at Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E), with the final spot opened up to a fan vote. The Purple Pig BBQ was chosen by fans to complete the program's lineup.
In addition to spotlighting their dishes, the program offers valuable professional development opportunities led by SS&E corporate university. Restaurant owners will have the chance to learn from industry experts and enhance their business acumen through training sessions focused on social media, marketing, human resources, and financing.
“By continuously introducing new menu items and collaborating with local chefs, Aramark not only enhances the fan experience but also celebrates and supports the rich culinary traditions of each community,” said Alison Birdwell, President and CEO of Aramark Sports + Entertainment. “Through programs like the Launch Test Kitchen and Spurs Culinary Residency Program we ensure that the flavors of home are always within reach, creating a vibrant and inclusive dining experience for all.”
About Aramark Sports + Entertainment
Aramark Sports + Entertainment serves more than 150 award-winning food and beverage, retail, and facility service programs in premier stadiums, arenas, convention centers, cultural attractions, performance venues, and unique entertainment destinations across North America. The company has received accolades for industry innovations including autonomous markets, dining concepts powered by artificial intelligence, and high-profile events like the MLB World Series, MLB at Rickwood Field, and NBA All-Star. Aramark has been recognized on FORTUNE’s list of “World’s Most Admired Companies,” The Civic 50 by Points of Light 2024, Fair360’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” and “Top Companies for Black Executives,” Newsweek’s list of “America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024,” the HRC’s “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality,” and earned a score of 100 on the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram.
