Author: Don Muret

Levy takes over Carolina Panthers’ food service

Levy replaces Delaware North Sportservice as the food provider at 24-year-old Bank of America Stadium. (Don Muret/Staff) Levy adds fourth Charlotte sports venue to its portfolio Bank of America Stadium is going through major upgrades to accommodate the Carolina Panthers and an MLS expansion team. The teams’ newest move has Levy taking over the venue’s food service. Chicago-based Levy replaces Delaware North Sportservice, which ran the NFL team’s food and retail for the past 10 seasons. Legends and Fanatics are competing for the stadium’s merchandise operation, sources said, but at this point, it’s unclear which company will manage that piece of the business. Rick Abramson, Delaware North’s chief customer officer, confirmed the switch in food vendors. Abramson was principally involved in Sportservice signing its agreement in early 2010 with the Panthers under their old owner, Jerry Richardson. David Tepper acquired the Panthers in July 2018.  Panthers President Tom Glick did not return… Continue Reading Levy takes over Carolina Panthers’ food service

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Firm Offers a Vision to Drive K.C. Ballpark Conversation

K.C. AT THE BAT: Pendulum Studio created unsolicited renderings for a 30,000-seat ballpark in downtown Kansas City, Mo. (Courtesy Pendulum Studio) Royals didn’t ask, but ‘it’s a conversation starter,’ Pendulum’s Cole says Kansas City sports architect Pendulum Studio has unveiled its vision for a new downtown stadium for Major League Baseball’s Royals. For the small designer of minor league parks and spring training venues, it’s a reboot of a discussion over a project some have wanted for decades. In this case, though, there are fresh renderings — unsolicited — for a 30,000-seat MLB park.   Jonathan Cole, a founding principal with Pendulum and veteran of three bigger sports design firms in town, said his 10-person shop completed the concept design on its  own without consulting with the Royals or city officials. The architect teamed with local chef and restaurateur Patrick Ryan on the food piece. Ryan runs Port Fonda, a Mexican eatery… Continue Reading Firm Offers a Vision to Drive K.C. Ballpark Conversation

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Booking Deal Fills Rupp With More Than Hoops

LEXINGTON, KY. — Carl Hall has one less hat to wear after handing off Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center booking duties to OVG Facilities on Jan. 1, 2018. The move has paid off handsomely, said Hall, longtime director of arena management at the 43-year-old venue.  Over the past two years, Brian Sipe, OVG’s director of booking at Rupp Arena, has helped double revenue from non-Kentucky basketball events. The numbers have grown substantially, according to data reported to Pollstar, sister publication of VenuesNow. (Oak View Group owns both magazines.) In 2017, the average ticket gross was $247,000 with an average of 6,500 tickets sold for four events reported by Rupp Arena officials. One year later, the average gross was $420,000 with an average of 6,600 tickets across 35 shows reported, including multiple-day family shows. Last year, the average ticket gross was $742,000 with an average of 8,300 tickets sold for… Continue Reading Booking Deal Fills Rupp With More Than Hoops

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Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center: Building on Tradition

WILDCAT WATCHERS: Fans watch the tipoff of the Kentucky-Alabama game at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center on Jan. 11. (Don Muret / Staff) Project at Lexington complex brings new comforts to Kentucky basketball fans LEXINGTON, KY. — The University of Kentucky holds a storied tradition in college basketball and a few of its fervent fans were celebrating early on a recent Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Lexington, which is attached to Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mimosas flowed at the hotel bar and portable carts offered beer and hard liquor in the Hyatt lobby before the noon tipoff between Kentucky and Alabama. The Southeastern Conference school prohibits the sale of alcohol at sports events, including city-owned Rupp Arena, but the arena sits steps away indoors and the lobby serves as a de facto extension of Rupp’s main concourse.  Midway through 2022, the layout will change dramatically as part… Continue Reading Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center: Building on Tradition

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