Centerplate Treats Orange Bowl Fans to Gracious Hospitality and Florida Flavors

STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Centerplate, the largest hospitality partner to North America's premier sports stadiums, convention centers and entertainment venues, played hospitality host last night at the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. This season, Centerplate hosted 11 college bowl games including the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Holiday Bowl in San Diego, Music City Bowl in Nashville, and the Military Bowl in Washington D.C. Throughout the year, Centerplate partners with 10 NFL clubs and over 25 collegiate programs, more than any other hospitality company. Last night, Centerplate greeted fans of the Stanford Cardinals and the Virginia Tech Hokies with an exciting new menu, innovative fan promotions, and enhanced customer service programs.

Out-of-state fans had the opportunity to enjoy the signature flavors of South Florida crafted especially for last night's game by our chefs. Centerplate featured The Cuban Dog: a foot long, all-beef hot dog smothered in roasted pork, melted Swiss cheese, sliced pickles and topped with traditional yellow mustard and the Orange Rush: exclusively available at Sun Life Stadium, the specialty beverage features top shelf vodka, fresh Florida orange juice, Triple Sec and Sierra Mist, and served in a color-shifting souvenir mood cup. Fans were also treated our pit master's own BBQ specialties smoked in-stadium.

Centerplate also was honored to cater the 9,000 invited guests of the five on-site premier private parties, including one for the game's sponsor, Discover Card, in which any Discover cardholder attending the game was granted entry into a complimentary all-inclusive VIP entertainment event.

This year, to complement its culinary offerings, the company has also initiated a series of enhancements to its service training and experience assurance initiatives. Centerplate's training program, which has been completely revamped and launched as Centerplate University for this year, is based on a series of training sessions that provides our service team the foundation to succeed. In addition to functional training, the program includes a significant focus on food safety, responsible service of alcohol, and the principles and behaviors of gracious guest service for a better fan experience.

"We were thrilled to have been able to offer our signature dishes at the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl," said Sal Ferrulo, Centerplate's Senior Vice President responsible for last night's game. "Between our signature menu offerings, impressive service upgrades and ambitious menu additions, Centerplate gave fans an extraordinary Orange Bowl experience while expanding upon our goal to serve as a total solution partner to our team clients."

This year has proven to be one of the company's strongest ever in new business development and client retention in its eighty-year history. Centerplate added the addition of several new client-partners. These included the Woodruff Arts Center, one of the nation's most prestigious art centers, in Atlanta, Georgia, the Cobo Conference/Exhibition Center, the storied 2.4 million square foot facility in the heart of downtown Detroit, and the Niagara Convention and Civic Centre, a new convention facility opening in April, located in Niagara Falls, Ontario. 

About Centerplate:

Centerplate crafts and delivers "Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results." in 250 prominent sports, entertainment and convention venues across North America. Centerplate has provided services to 11 Super Bowls, 20 World Series, the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, Art Basel Miami Beach, 15 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration. Visit the company online at www.centerplate.com.

SOURCE Centerplate