SSP America Honors America's Legendary Ball Parks With Stadium Club

LANSDOWNE, Va., June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SSP America, the North American division of SSP, the leading operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations worldwide, announced today the opening of Stadium Club, its new 2,350 square foot sports bar concept at JFK's Terminal 4.

The American sports bar grows up.  Paying homage to the legendary ball parks, stadiums and arenas of New York City, Stadium Club combines culinary excellence with the entertainment value of sports to create a hip, throwback sports bar experience.

Old school meets the modern day at Stadium Club with a show-stopping 40 ft. Infinity bar featuring reclaimed pendant lights with a retro feel, complemented by modern, rust colored ostrich bar stools. Brick walls and wood floors give an understated hint of yesteryear.  A soft pad outfield wall hangs from the ceiling and black & white vintage photographs of New York stadiums and arenas decorate the walls.  Six high-definition plasma televisions offer travelers an unobstructed view of their favorite sporting event and the ability for the restaurant to feature multiple sporting events simultaneously.

The food and beer at Stadium Club are equally steeped with reverence.  All-American ball park favorites incorporate market fresh ingredients and whimsical twists on beloved classics such as the gourmet 10 inch hot dog, flat breads and grilled artisan cheese sandwiches.  There are six chrome draft beer towers, 20 distinct bottled and craft beers and a robust list of specialty cocktails served in an eclectic mix of glassware.

The venue, located pre-security and open to the public, seats 98 comfortably – with cushy, padded booths enabling guests to linger throughout an entire game and into extra innings or overtime in maximum comfort.  And, with nods to the future, Stadium Club uses low VOC paints, energy efficient lighting and energy star rated equipment throughout.

Les Cappetta, President and CEO of SSP America, commented, "For a city as enthusiastic about sports as New York, we decided to combine SSP's passion for food with this city's passion for sports and deliver a sports bar concept in keeping with modern times.  We've kept all of the fun and high-drama energy of the sports bar experience and added in the discerning touches and high quality food choices that travelers are now seeking.  We are delighted to once again be partnering with JFK IAT to bring the new Stadium Club brand to our passengers and continue to elevate the way passengers eat, drink and enjoy their time at the airport."

"Keeping in step with New York's new stadiums for the Yankees and Mets, and the soon-to-be-completed Barclays Arena in Brooklyn for the New Jersey NETS, which have all raised the bar for local sports team venues, air travelers can now sample the city's newest stadium experience at JFK Terminal 4," said Alain Maca. "The restaurant broadens our already diverse spectrum of dining choices for travelers and visitors. We're proud to partner with SSP America to bring a taste of the true New York stadium experience to New York's gateway to the world."

About SSP

SSP is the leading dedicated operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations, operating restaurants, bars, cafes, food courts, lounges and convenience stores in airports, train stations, motorway service stations, shopping malls, conference centers and other leisure locations. With a heritage stretching back over 60 years, today SSP has 30,000 employees, serving millions of customers every week. It has business at over 140 airports and over 250 rail stations, and operates more than 2,100 units in 30 countries around the world.

SSP operates an extensive portfolio of over 200 international, national, local and specialty brands. These include Upper Crust, Starbucks, Caffe Ritazza, M&S Simply Food, Bonne Journee, Caviar House & Prunier, and leading Japanese noodle brand Ajisen Ramen as well as stunning bespoke concepts such as the Montreux Jazz Cafe in Geneva and Sydney and the Bambini Wine Room in Sydney. Its brand portfolio is tailored for each specific location, depending on variables such as passenger profile, consumer need states, location type, size and design.

About SSP America (SSP Canada/SSP Caribbean)

SSP America operates in more than 40 airports and motorways across the USA, Canada and the Caribbean.  Third party brands in the broad portfolio include The Palm Restaurant, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Houlihan's, Gordon Biersch, Panda Express, Tigin, Peet's Coffee & Tea, T.G.I. Friday's, Tim Hortons, The Great American Bagel and Buffalo Wild Wings.  SSP America's brand portfolio also includes strong, local award-winning icons such as Laurelwood Public House & Brewery, Harry & Izzy's, Nonna Bartolotta's, and Alterra Coffee.

About JFK IAT

JFK IAT, LLC, which operates Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, is wholly owned by Schiphol USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Amsterdam-based Schiphol Group.

JFK IAT is the only private, non-airline company to operate a terminal at JFK in a public-private partnership with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.  The 1.5-million-square-foot Terminal 4 opened in May 2001 and reached an annual passenger volume of 9.8 million air travelers in 2010.  Terminal 4 is one of the largest terminals in the New York area, serving nearly 40 international and domestic airlines. For more information visit www.jfkiat.com.

SOURCE SSP America