The Woodruff Arts Center Awards Hospitality Contract to Legendary Partners of Atlanta

STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Legendary Partners of Atlanta, a new collaboration between A Legendary Event, Atlanta's foremost special events firm, and Centerplate, the leading hospitality provider to North America's premier entertainment venues, sports stadiums and convention centers, announced today it has been awarded the long-term contract as hospitality partner to The Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta.

Recognized as one of the nation's most prestigious arts centers, and the only center in the nation combining visual and performing arts, The Woodruff Arts Center is home to the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, High Museum of Art, and Young Audiences.  Since 1968, The Woodruff Arts Center has served more than 30 million patrons and annually offers more than 3,300 performances and exhibitions. Its board selected Legendary Partners of Atlanta as its food and beverage solution provider after a lengthy and competitive review process.

Joe Bankoff, President and CEO of The Woodruff Arts Center, said, "We are very excited about our new relationship with Legendary Partners of Atlanta.  They understand our business, appreciate our mission and presented a plan to provide an unparalleled guest experience for each of our audiences."

Viewed by Atlanta's charitable, corporate and civic organizations as the region's premier special events company, A Legendary Event's Tony Conway, President and Owner said, "We are thrilled to join Centerplate in providing outstanding guest service to The Woodruff Arts Center's audiences, and excited to deliver the level of excellence that has come to represent the Center's programming. We are looking forward to bringing Atlanta back to The Woodruff Arts Center for its events and dining."

Centerplate serves over 250 leading entertainment, sports and convention venues throughout North America, including twenty-one marquee performing arts centers. The company is known for its compelling food and beverage programs; in 2010 alone Centerplate served as the hospitality partner to the Super Bowl, the Winter Olympics, the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, the South Beach Wine & Food Show, and the recent Nuclear Summit in Washington, D.C.  "We are honored to have this opportunity to serve The Woodruff Arts Center and the city of Atlanta, and we are extremely excited to provide world-class hospitality to this world-class facility," said Des Hague, President and CEO of Centerplate.

Legendary Partners of Atlanta is scheduled to begin service at The Woodruff Arts Center in the fall of 2010. Among its plans are a refreshed restaurant concept, enhancements to public food offerings, and offering an array of special event catering choices.  

This announcement follows recent Centerplate new business partnerships, including being selected as hospitality partner to the jewel of Ontario the Niagara Convention & Civic Centre in Niagara Falls, Canada and its start of operations at Tanglewood, summer home of the Boston Pops. A Legendary Event was named the 2010 Event Spotlight Recipient for Catering Company of the Year and the 2010 Catersource ACE (Achievement in Catering Excellence) Award for the Best Catering Company in the South Region.

About The Woodruff Arts Center

The Woodruff Arts Center is one of the premier cultural centers in the nation, a unique institutional model where arts institutions unite to form a collaborative and inspirational environment for the arts and education.  The Woodruff Arts Center houses four renowned arts organizations - Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, High Museum of Art, and Young Audiences.  In addition to its role as a cultural beacon and hub of the Southeast, the Center serves as a critical economic, educational, and social catalyst for Atlanta and the region. For more information, visit www.woodruffcenter.org.

About A Legendary Event

A Legendary Event is an award-winning catering and event services' company based in Atlanta, Georgia. Providing exemplary catering, design and décor, the company has gained the confidence of the city's best events since 1997. For more information, visit www.legendaryevents.com.

About Centerplate

Centerplate crafts and delivers "Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results." in 250 prominent entertainment, sports and convention venues across North America—including 21 performing arts centers. Centerplate has provided services to Art Basel Miami Beach, 15 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls, 12 Super Bowls, 19 World Series, key events for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration. Visit the company online at www.centerplate.com.

SOURCE Legendary Partners of Atlanta