New Partnership for Webster Bank Arena Management

BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Feb. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Bridgeport and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers join Centerplate, the leading hospitality partner to North America's premier sports, convention and entertainment venues, today in announcing a new partnership to manage the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard, pending the approval of the Bridgeport City Council.  Under the new partnership the Sound Tigers will assume responsibility for the management of the facility and Centerplate will continue to manage the hospitality services.

Centerplate, which has served as the arena's facility manager and foodservice provider since its opening in 2001, has built an event presence at the arena booking headliners such as Cher, The Who, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen; as well as NCAA tournaments, and most recently, finalizing  a naming rights partnership with Webster Bank. The company, which has an established reputation in the foodservice industry for distinctive, high-quality culinary and event expertise, will continue to serve as foodservice partner to the Arena after the pending transition.

"Centerplate has laid a great foundation for our development plan," said Mayor Bill Finch. "We are delighted to have the opportunity to retain the nation's premier entertainment hospitality company as our foodservice partner while transitioning to local management of Bridgeport's jewel facility. It's a great development for the city."

"We have been proud of our service to the Arena at Harbor Yard, and are happy to continue our partnership with the venue. Centerplate's unique approach seeks to empower our clients and communities to build positive brand experience through distinctive venue hospitality," said Des Hague, President and CEO of Centerplate. "This new phase of our partnership is a positive step in advancing the mutual strengths and benefits of Centerplate's core competencies while leveraging the character of the city of Bridgeport and the Sound Tigers brand."

"We are excited to partner with the City of Bridgeport and Centerplate in this great facility," said Howard Saffan, President of the Sound Tigers, "I am confident that together we will reinforce the arena's position as the area's entertainment venue of choice."

The news comes alongside other key business announcements by Centerplate in 2010. The company's business development strategy during the previous calendar year included a merger with Boston Culinary Group, the launch of the new hospitality design group Centerplate Stir™, the hospitality service at world class events from the Vancouver Winter Olympics to the World Series, and the awarding of new contracts at premier venues from the Baltimore Convention Center, Detroit's Cobo Convention Center, and the Woodruff Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.

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 12 Super Bowls, 20 World Series, key events for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, 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