Top Menu

Veggie Happy: 26 MLB ballparks offer vegetarian options

Seattle MarinersWhen we launched this site, very few MLB teams offered any sort of vegetarian option. This season, roaming vendors are offering vegetarian franks to Mariners fans at Safeco Field, and 26 ballparks offered vegetarian hot dogs and more.

That information comes from the advocacy group Veggie Happy, which tracks vegetarian offers at MLB ballpark. At Safeco Field, for example, the vegetarian offerings go far past the wandering vendors: the dogs are also offered at many concession stands and a designated cart will be serving customized vegan chili cheese dogs in addition to veggie burgers.

Veggie Happy, launched by actress Johanna McCloy, has been a prime factor in pushing vegetarian fare in MLB ballparks. At first, veggie dogs remained unmentioned in ballpark menu listings and were limited to one stand, sometimes located at the far end of a stadium. Today, baseball fans will find such vegan options as frankfurters, sausages, burgers, Sloppy Janes, Philly cheese steaks, chicken fajitas, bean burritos, gluten-free snack chips and more.
 
And improving the fare has been a factor in the addition of veggies offerings as well, as concessionaires have upgraded their offerings. As an example: Safeco Field saw a 700 percent increase in sales from 2011-2012 after making the switch to Field Roast brand frankfurters. San Francisco Giants’ AT&T Park and Cleveland Indians’ Progressive Field also saw their sales rise.

“With more and more people looking for healthier options, Veggie Happy makes it easy for fans to plan their visit to the ballpark (by offering the on-line guide),” Peggy Kalberer, Assistant Concessions Manager for the Cleveland Indians’ Progressive Field said. “Our fans do not have to eat at home before coming to see a great game.” 

—-

Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.

Are you a subscriber to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter? You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.

Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!

Follow Ballpark Digest on Google + and add us to your circles!

, , , , , , , ,