Ballpark Digest is previewing what every MLB team is doing to begin the season, both on and off the field, as the 2018 campaign is underway. Up next: the Chicago White Sox and Guarantee Rate Field.
With an influx of new food and beverage options, the Chicago White Sox are shaking up the fan experience at Guaranteed Rate Field in 2018.
Traditionally, the White Sox have participated heavily in the craft beer at ballparks trend by mixing up their drink offerings. The team is taking that approach a step further this year, thanks in part to a partnership with Revolution Brewing that will lead to a new social space at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Beginning this season, Guaranteed Rate Field will offer the Revolution Brewing #SoxSocial Tap Room. It will feature Revolution beers on tap and a rotating food menu from Levy Restaurants, as well as unique amenities like #SoxSelfie photo opportunity spots and an area for fans to redeem check-in offers through the MLB Ballpark App. The area can be accessed via a set of stairs located above section 157.
In a separate move that will boost the ballpark’s beer offerings, the White Sox are debuting a new Craft Kave Express near section 542. This is an expansion of the Craft Kave concept at Guaranteed Rate Field, as the White Sox debuted Craft Kave last year in what was formerly the Bullpen Sports Bar. Goose Island is now the official craft beer of the White Sox, so expect lots of signage and promotions inside the ballpark.
Along with changes to the ballpark’s craft beer lineup, the White Sox will push new food items this season. Levy Restaurants is adding new menu offerings to some of the ballpark’s premium areas, including the Southside Horseshoe and the Chicken Pozole Bowl. The Southside Horseshoe is an Italian sausage sandwich that is topped with Baderbrau cheese sauce and crispy shoestring potato, while the Chicken Pozole Bowl is a classic salad loaded with authentic Mexican flavors, with fresh cabbage, radish, cilantro, lime and crunchy tortilla strips.
Delaware North has also introduced new food options at the ballpark. This year, fans at Guaranteed Rate Field will find selections like a Cuban Burger and a Churro Ice Cream Sandwich. This season will also feature Johnsonville Specialty Sausages, including The Slurve (a cheddar bratwurst topped with caramelized onions and spicy deli mustard), The Change Up (Monterey jack chicken sausage with zesty salsa fresca), and The Cutter (Southwestern chorizo served with guacamole and cotija cheese).
Beyond the food and beverage lineup, the White Sox are making a few other changes to Guaranteed Rate Field. The ballpark now features a wraparound LED ribbon board, with the White Sox relocating a retired number display from behind home plate to areas on the first and third base sides to accommodate the change. Guaranteed Rate Field is also joining the virtual reality trend, as the White Sox have added a VR batting cage in the Chicago Sports Depot. In a significant behind-the-scenes upgrade, the White Sox have renovated the visitors’ clubhouse.
Image of Southside Horseshoe courtesy Levy Restaurants.
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