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College football can be tasty?! 

Spring football practices are underway. A big trend in college athletics is the upgrading of food quality and uniqueness of stadium culinary experiences. Hot dogs and nachos used to be enough, but now fans demand better and more unique and local concessions options. Levy Restaurants is an E&I Cooperative Services partner, that delivers very interesting concessions experiences to collegiate athletic venues across the country. In fact, 1,600 of Levy's team members work directly with NCAA institutions. Here are five of Levy's favorite college football locations, where Levy makes game day TASTY!

---> Your E&I contract with Levy Restaurants

OSU mobile ordering
OSU's "The Horseshoe" stadium added a special grilled cheese cart. This is the Amazin' Blazin' Grilled Cheese with Ghost Pepper Bacon Jam.

The Ohio State University
New mobile ordering, and food inspired by rival opponents

Ohio State University added mobile ordering at The Horseshoe for the Fall football season. Automated self-checkout units in the stadium, plus the addition of a checkout-free market, is boosting speed and efficiency at concerts, and now games this season. OSU is building out its "Taste of the Competition" program, which serves burgers and culinary items inspired by the opposing team. For example, the Smash Chorizo Burrito was a popular hit last season. And more options will be added to the grilled cheese carts in 2024.

Levy's Director of Operations at Ohio State athletic venues mentioned that getting the automated self-checkout and mobile ordering systems working "right" in 2024 was a big deal. He believes fans who have a bad experience during checkout will be less likely to use these programs in the future. But if done right, they'll always want to do it, because it saves times, and becomes part of gameday operations.


University of Notre Dame
Supporting Local Minority-Owned Businesses with Taste Testing

The University of Notre Dame is making some food and concessions changes this football season. This year it is introducing some next-level stadium eats. Chefs from six minority, or locally owned businesses will be featured in club areas throughout the stadium. One of the new items is called a Rockne Brat, which is a grilled bratwurst with jalapeno mustard and grilled onion. Proceeds go to the Knute Rockne Foundation for student-athlete scholarship funds. 

For fans with a sweet tooth, in premium areas there will be a rotating dessert station which will include a S'mores Bar, Rootbeer Floats, Strawberry Shortcakes, and more. On top of that, fans can participate in a tasting program to try local and national wines and brews. 

 

UND
An addition at Notre Dame football games this season will be the Bacon Jam Smash Brisket Burger.
oregon state
A quick look at the new Beaver Street main concourse at Reser Stadium.

Oregon State University
Highlighting the Local Flavors of Corvallis, OR

Reser Stadium, Oregon State's football arena, just went through renovations in the past year. To compliment those renovations, the Oregon State football program unveiled a new culinary area to the hospitality scene. This area is called Beaver Street Food Co. In this renovated hospitality area, fans will be greeted with 24 new concessions items. This hospitality area will showcase local cuisine from the city and surrounding area with multiple local restaurant vendors. For example, the new Buffalo Cilantro Lime Wings are a new food addition from a local Corvallis restaurant. And Beaver Street will serve four varieties of "Colossal Loaded Hot Dogs," which are regional culinary favorites. With the addition of Beaver Street, Oregon State looks to give the concessions experience its own identity, and will be more authentic to the fan base. 

University of Arkansas
Constantly Evolving to Meet Fan Expectations

At Arkansas football games, the program is always trying to serve fan needs better. For football season, the school is rolling out new souvenir items to accompany food and beverages, something for fans to hang onto. The football stadium is rolling out these souvenir items at a new beer garden for example, and building automated self-checkout markets to increase speed of service. UA notices that fans value getting back to the game action quickly, so self-service beer gardens are one way to meet fan expectations. 

---> Your E&I contract with Levy Restaurants

 

 

arkansas
Arkansas is speeding up service at football games this season with automated beer checkout.
mizzou
The University of Missouri is adding new, all-inclusive food and beverage ticket options in 2024. Fans who are "foodies" will look for this ticket addition.

University of Missouri
Introduction of flexible pricing options

The Director of Operations at Mizzou, Steve Covey, looks for creative ways to meet guests where they are, and price is a part of that. This football season, Mizzou football is introducing fan-friendly pricing models that caters to a wide range of spending preferences. For example, traditional favorites for students like hot dogs, popcorns, and soda will still be priced at $2-3. But on the other scale, two in-stadium locations will feature an all-inclusive dining experience with the price of a ticket. These are premium options for fans looking for a different day-of-game culinary experience. 

To speed up service, Mizzou is also featuring nine new grab-and-go markets around the stadium, where fans can purchase food, beverages, and souvenirs all at once. 

 

 

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