St. Louis, MO – On April 13, 2012, the St. Louis Cardinals, the reigning World Series Champions, return to Busch Stadium to begin defending their title. While only the players can satisfy the fans’ hunger for another victory, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, the St. Louis Cardinals’ concessionaire partner for more than 50 years, is satisfying their hunger for great taste sensations by revealing four new live-action stations at the concessions level – the Asian Café, The Carvery, Sliders and Fries, and Coke Island. Each station features completely customizable menu options sure to please every appetite.
Meanwhile, the Official Cardinals Team Store features St. Louis’ widest selection of World Series Gold Program apparel – a limited-edition line of gold-lettered Cardinals World Series Championship jerseys, t-shirts, hats and more. Players will wear the commemorative jersey and hat through Opening Day Weekend. Fans will also find exclusive expanded lines of merchandise, including player look-alike toys and items for the home and outdoors.
Custom-Made Concessions Inspired by Fan Demand
Sportservice is committed to providing concession options that evolve with fan demand. Due to their overwhelming popularity in the Redbird Club and during the 2011 playoff season, four new live-action cooking stations have made a permanent home in the main concourse.
“Sportservice continually strives to deliver the best in quality, flavor and service in our concession stands,” said Sportservice Chef Jessica Barnes Helms. “Live-action cooking allows us to incorporate all three of those things, and encourages the fan to completely customize any menu item. The ingredients are always fresh, and you get exactly what you order. Ballpark concessions just got personal.”
For fans looking to excite the palate without traveling too far from home, look no farther than the Asian Café, located next to the Farmer’s Market at Gate 1. Choose between either rice or noodles, then top with chicken or beef and fresh veggies. (Vegetarian and gluten-free options are also available.) Personalized bowls are sautéed and seasoned with your pick of Asian-inspired sauces.
Craving home-style cuisine? Follow your nose to The Carvery (Gate 2). This build-your-own sandwich station features marinated turkey or beef sliced right off the bone, then piled high onto fresh-baked bread from St. Louis’ own Fazio’s Bakery on the Hill. Choose from complimentary sides to make this entrée a meal.
Moving down the concourse, Sliders and Fries (Section 148) is an entirely new concept developed by the Sportservice culinary team. This you-pick-two menu features three choices of sandwich meats – braised beef with au jus, pulled chicken with chipotle mayonnaise, and St. Louis-style barbecue pulled pork with grilled onions. Hand-cut French fries come in three varieties – seasoned, garlic and cheese – tossed to order. Mix and match any of these options to satisfy your own tastes or share with a friend.
Last but not least, the newly renovated (and expanded) Coke Island at Gate 1 is putting a gourmet twist on the All-American ballpark snack: popcorn. Popped in-house daily and continuously throughout each game, Coke Island serves four delicious flavors – butter, white cheddar, Cajun and caramel. Coke Island will make and distribute fresh, homemade popcorn throughout the entire stadium. Just when you thought the games couldn’t get any better, in-seat vendors will unveil bags of Cinnamon Sweet Cardinal Corn – the bright red, sweet and salty popcorn treat is perfect for fans of all ages.
Back by popular demand from the World Series are two favorites: the St. Louis Barbecue Bacon Dog (sections 133, 168, and the Redbird Club), and Build Your Own Nachos (sections 131, 151 and the Redbird Club). For a different twist on the dog, Sportservice will offer local Butcher on the Block bratwursts – jalapeño cheddar; chicken, spinach and mozzarella; and portabella and swiss – at the Ford Family Plaza between Gates 5 and 6.
Decked in Gold: New Merchandise for World Champion Fans
The St. Louis Cardinals will don gold-lettered jerseys and hats to celebrate their 2011 victory in their first 2012 appearance at Busch Stadium. Gild yourself in gold to match your favorite player as they sparkle and shine on Opening Day and through the weekend. Visit the Official Cardinals Team Store to find a full range of exclusive Gold Program apparel and accessories. The Gold Program merchandise includes gold-lettered jerseys for men, women and kids with a player’s name and number or a blank back; gold-letter t-shirts for men and women; gold-letter hats; gold coffee mugs, and a special edition lapel pin inspired by the World Series championship ring.
“For most Cardinals’ fans, World Series excitement is far from over,” said Stephanie Spargur, Sportservice retail manager. “This year, in addition to all the new merchandise for the 2012 season, you’ll see lots of 2011 World Series items. The most exciting items, and the ones with the most bling, will be our exclusive, gold-letter jerseys, t-shirts, hats and accessories. Dress like a champion; wear gold!”
The Official Cardinals Team Store:
The Team Store has also expanded its line of apparel for men and women. Exclusive Cutter and Buck premium apparel is back and has been expanded due to demand to feature men’s polo shirts, sweaters and ladies dresses. The jersey selection includes Majestic on-field jerseys, available for men and women, starring all the fan-favorites – David Freese, Yadier Molina, Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday and more.
Add a finishing touch with one of the Team Store’s exclusive watches. Die-hard fans won’t miss a beat with the Cardinals Schedule watch – programmable for the St. Louis Cardinals and other favorite teams’ schedules. And for the most sophisticated fans, look no further than the diamond-encrusted time piece, packaged in a sleek, James Bond-inspired carrying case.
Cultivate Cardinals Pride early with the new, Team Store-exclusive line of Cardinals inspired toys. In addition to plush toys and stuffed animals, young fans can take the players home with them after the game, in miniature version of course. Recreate the action-packed games with a set of player toys by Lil’ Teammates – complete with a pitcher, batter and catcher – or uniformed Cardinals figures by OYO. Indulge your daughter’s athlete crush with an “I ‘Heart’ David Freese” street sign.
Adorn your home and lawn with the finest Cardinals gear. Sportservice is launching stained-glass lamps, picture frames and clocks so fans can show Cardinals Pride in every room. Sportservice is also the provider of all your tailgating needs: Cardinals logo folding chairs and a collapsible table are suitable for the parking lot or a backyard barbecue. Fans can even take their team spirit to the great outdoors with themed camping stools and Cardinals fishing reel.
Back for the 2012 season are dozens of $12 and under souvenirs, including, mini-bats, koozies, magnets, baseball cards, jewelry, posters, postcards, foam fingers, foam claws, key chains, lanyards, pennants, player plaques, sunglasses and a pin of the month, now expanded for all 12 months of the year.
About Delaware North Companies Sportservice
Delaware North Companies Sportservice is one of the nation’s leading food, beverage and retail management companies, providing 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, the Stanley Cup Championships and the Olympic Games.
Throughout its 90-year history, Sportservice has demonstrated that it knows what it takes to effectively develop, operate and manage multi-faceted kitchens, restaurants, suites with fine dining, and retail facilities in order to meet the changing demands of today’s fans. From introducing healthier food selections and creative cuisine to twists on traditional fare and new organic options, Sportservice continues to innovate and enhance the fan experience.
Source: Delaware North Companies Sportservice
