Oak View Group named the new food, beverage provider for Footprint Center
The Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury announced they are upgrading food and beverage services for games and concerts at Footprint Center with an eye on providing new menu items, shorter wait times, better service and other benefits.
The teams announced a new partnership with the food and beverage division of Oak View Group for all games, concerts and other life events at the downtown Phoenix arena. This will be Oak View’s first partnership at an NBA and WNBA venue.
“This will be transformative for the food and beverage experience in terms of quality of service, types of (food) offerings and the speed of getting in and out of line,” said Josh Bartelstein, CEO of the two basketball franchises, in an interview with The Arizona Republic.
Nor will fans pay more for the expanded service or upgraded menu items, he added.
In the arena’s club sections, “Chefs will be tossing pizzas, and servers will be handing out sushi,” Bartelstein said. In addition, fans will have access to specialty cocktails.
The partnership with Oak View also will include expanded technology allowing, for example, fans to purchase food and drinks in some areas autonomously, without the need to interact with a human cashier. The arena will accept payments by credit card or cellphone. Cash no longer is accepted there.
The partnership doesn't involve additional hiring or infrastructure expansions at Footprint Center. Levy Restaurants, whose contract expired, was the former concessionaire.
“Our commitment is to continue to find innovative ways to invest in our community and put forth our championship mentality in everything we do, on and off the floor,” said Mat Ishbia, Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury owner, in a prepared statement. “From the moment fans walk through our doors, we want every part of their game-day experience to be world-class and something they can only have in Phoenix.”
Some food items will feature locally sourced ingredients, with menus specific to each type of event.
Oak View was founded in 2015. The company’s hospitality business serves more than 250,000 events and more than 40 million guests each year at arenas, stadiums, convention centers, sporting events and festivals throughout North America.
Reach the writer at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Oak View Group gets deal for Footprint Center food, beverage service
