The two Class A teams bring in concession veterans and cut ties with outside vendors. Meanwhile, the Visalia Rawhide unveil a slew of new menu items.
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High Class A; Carolina league) and the Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) bring in concession veterans and cut ties with outside vendors. Meanwhile, the Visalia Rawhide unveil a slew of new menu items.
The Pelicans declined to renew its food service agreement with its current third-party operator, Ovations Food Services, for the 2010 season and beyond. The Pelicans will immediately begin self-managing their food and beverage operation at BB&T Coastal Field this year under the direction of Brad Leininger, a former Ovations General Manager, who has been hired as the Pelicans’ Director of Food and Beverage.
“The decision to manage our concessions in-house gives us the opportunity to effectively introduce new and better selections to the food and beverage stands at BB&T Coastal Field and to have even greater freedom to offer fans more deals and discounts,” said General Manager Scott Brown. “I can say from experience, it’s unequivocally the best way to go. It eliminates the middle man and brings us one step closer to our fans in an extremely important area of the ballpark experience.”
This season at BB&T Coastal Field, fans can expect an entirely restructured food and beverage experience. The Pelicans will be taking a more active role in ensuring quality and affordability at every ballpark event. With direct control, the team will have more flexibility in rolling out expanded food promotions in 2010.
In Augusta, the GreenJackets decided to end a deal with Centerplate and handle concessions under the direction of Mark Lawrence, the former head of concessions for the Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League).
The Visalia Rawhide (High Class A; California League) are pleased to announce the addition of two long-time baseball fan favorites to the 2010 concessions menu.
Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, one of the most popular hot dogs served in premier sporting venues throughout the country, will become an immediate fan favorite. The 1/4 lb. all-beef dogs will be available in both the right field and left field concessions stands.
Cracker Jack, so intricately linked with baseball that it is included by name in the game’s top song, “Take Me Out To The Ball Game,” will now be available throughout Recreation Ballpark.
Unlike the previous season, when stadium renovations ran right up to the first pitch on Opening Day, the Rawhide used last year’s full season, and an entire off-season, to prepare for 2010.
“We evaluated everything we heard from fans last season, negative or positive, and this off-season have been conducting extensive customer service, concessions operations, and food preparation training for our entire game day staff,” said Assistant General Manager Elizabeth Martin. “The folks that turned out during a record attendance season last year earned the right to have a fantastic ballpark experience every night out, which we’re committed to giving them.”
Customers will have the opportunity to create sandwiches from the ballpark favorites menu specifically to their liking. “We’ve got a host of fixins’ available, with a handful on the house, that will give fans the chance to build their own favorite,” said Martin. “We’re pleased once again to serve Harris Ranch all-natural beef burgers, and this year we’re offering them made-to-order in classic In N’ Out style – single, double and add-a-patty portions. And we’re encouraging fans to think outside the box and toss on whatever they want . . . bacon, cheese, chili, grilled peppers and onions, etc. Make it an entire meal on a bun.”
Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.
Subscribers to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter see features before they're posted to the site. You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.
Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!