Delaware North Companies Sportservice Ready to Help Female Football Fans Enjoy NFL Season in Style

BUFFALO, N.Y., Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With more female football fans than ever – and many increasingly seeking stylish team gear – Delaware North Companies Sportservice has added and renovated stadium stores for six National Football League teams and increased the selection of women's merchandise and apparel it offers.  

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Long known as a provider of food and beverage services at major professional sports venues, Sportservice also provides retail services, including for six NFL teams at five venues: the New York Giants and New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium, Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium, and St. Louis Rams at Edward Jones Dome.

The stadium retail stores are now stocked with new merchandise lines from Nike, New Era Cap Co., and '47 Brand, among others.  

In April, Nike took over for Reebok as the NFL's official apparel provider, resulting in new sleek designs for player jerseys and sideline apparel. New Era took Reebok's spot as the league's official hat provider, including those worn by players on the sideline. Also among the new apparel licensees this season is '47 Brand, known especially for its retro designs and variety in women's lines. All of these styles are available at Sportservice's stadium retail outlets.

All of those brands and others took into account that women make up a larger percentage of NFL fans, creating new styles designed specifically for them and thus allowing Sportservice to continue to expand its offerings in women's apparel.

"The women's business is continually growing and will benefit from Nike, '47 Brand, 5th & Ocean, Mitchell & Ness and the other licensees such as VF Corporation evolving their lines to have a better understanding of the female fan," said Donna Genesky, retail director for Sportservice. "A woman doesn't have to settle for a somewhat awkward men's small anymore.

"We have products that meet the needs of fans of all ages, men or women. One of the bigger mistakes over the years was thinking either the fan would buy the men's – often looked at as unisex – or the younger women would buy youth apparel. Then, as women's clothing lines started to evolve, it was more focused on the younger fan. Finally, the clothing brands are getting the full scope of this category," Genesky said.  

Genesky also noted Sportservice's commitment to keeping up with the latest trends, anticipating continued growth in knit headwear, bolstered by the additions of New Era and '47 Brand.

To accommodate the new lines and enhance the stadium shopping experience, Sportservice has introduced a new 3,000-square-foot retail store for Rams fans at Edwards Jones Dome and renovated two stores at Chicago's Soldier Field and one at Bank of America Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers.

At MetLife Stadium in New Jerseys, Sportservice unveiled four new branded stores: G-III Sports by Carl Banks (two stores), New Era Cap, and '47 Brand. Sportservice also operates MetLife Stadium's award-winning Flagship Store, which has been lauded for its ability to transform into an exclusively Jets or Giants store, depending on which team is playing.

About Delaware North Companies Sportservice
Delaware North Companies Sportservice is one of the nation's leading food, beverage and retail management companies. Sportservice provides concessions, gourmet catering and fine dining operations at more than 50 professional sporting venues, entertainment complexes and convention centers across the United States and Canada. Sportservice is the provider of choice for an impressive client roster, including the World Series, the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball's All-Star games, Stanley Cup Championships and the Olympic Games. For more than 90 years, Sportservice has demonstrated that it knows what it takes to effectively develop, operate and manage multi-faceted kitchens, restaurants, suites, fine dining and retail facilities in order to meet the changing demands of today's fans. From introducing new healthy, organic food selections and creative cuisine for twists on the traditional fare, Sportservice continues to innovate and enhance the fan experience. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.

About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the largest and most admired privately held hospitality companies in the world. Founded and owned by the Jacobs family for nearly 100 years, it is a global leader in hospitality and food service. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner of TD Garden. Delaware North Companies has revenue exceeding $2.6 billion annually and 55,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.  

SOURCE Delaware North Companies