NFL fans heading for stadiums this season will find much more than hot dogs and pretzels among eats, as these facilities upgrade their food offerings and bring more community flavor to their menus.
Foodservice company Aramark, which works with 14 NFL teams and expects to serve more than 6 million football fans this season, says it examines local food trends along with consumer insights to create menus with the organizations.
The result: even tacos served have local influences. At NRG Stadium, Houston Texans fans can get Battle Red Tacos, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos-crusted chicken tenders, mango pico de gallo and Sriracha mayonnaise on flour tortillas. M&T Bank Stadium, home to the Baltimore Ravens, is serving Chesapeake Tacos made with Old Bay pulled chicken, Maryland crab dip, corn salsa and cheddar jack cheese on purple corn tortillas. And Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans at Raymond James Stadium can order Bay Spice Brisket Tacos with spice-crusted brisket, queso fresco, radish, cilantro crema, and jalapeno slaw on flour tortillas.
Regionality plays in the menus right along with portability, says Darren Tristano, CEO of the consultancy Foodservice Results.
“More local brands and local concepts are finding their way into stadiums, Tristano says. “They can be very popular with the fans who are ready to move away from the typical hotdog. In Seattle, you’ll see crab cakes and in New England, you’ll see lobster macaroni and cheese bites.”
Sandwiches, too, have taken on local flare. At Chicago Bears home, Soldier Field, fans can find a take on the Gym Shoe sandwiches that are popular in south side neighborhoods. The roll has gyro meat, corned beef, Italian beef, Tzatziki sauce, giardiniera relish, and tomatoes.
Also debuting this season are house-smoked beef ribs at NRG Stadium; a Jamaican jerk sausage sandwich at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs); and Teriyaki Beef Tater Tots with Asian slaw and Sriracha BBQ sauce and a bacon-wrapped black Angus foot-long hotdog with pinto beans at the Cincinnati Bengals’ Paul Brown Stadium.
Local and celebrity chefs will have a presence at many games. David Chang is bringing his Fuku Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich to Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Eagles) and Chris Shepherd sandwich of 44 Farms beef carved, horseradish cream, blue cheese, bacon, onions and tomatoes comes to NRG Stadium.
Vegan and vegetarian options are around the league. Among them, plant-based burgers at Soldier Field and Arrowhead Stadium, and sweet potato and black bean tacos at U.S. Bank Stadium (Minnesota Vikings).
“The shift towards satisfying fans has them trying to create and innovate new items that are going to give fans another reason to come to the stadiums and leave their warm homes and pay high prices for a football game,” Tristano says.
Related: Foodservice Sales Grow 4 Percent; Dodger Stadium Renovation Revamps Food, Beverage Offerings.
from Specialty Food News https://ift.tt/30bDRSE
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