University of Houston Partners with Aramark to Transform Athletics Facilities' Hospitality and Event Management Programs

HOUSTON, Aug. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Houston today announced a long-term partnership with leading hospitality and facilities services provider Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) to serve as the exclusive provider of venue management, food, beverage, retail merchandise and facility maintenance services at all of the University's athletics facilities and Cullen Performance Hall. The University has partnered with Aramark for its campus dining programs since 2005.

Aramark is teaming with VenuWorks, an operations and event programming specialist, to create an integrated service entity. Working together, Aramark and VenuWorks will manage all aspects of the University's event operations, programming, ticketing, turf and facility maintenance plus delivery of concessions, club level and suites dining programs and retail merchandising.

"This partnership comes at a perfect time for the University. With TDECU Stadium set to open Aug. 29, and acclaimed recording artists performing at campus facilities, excitement is building at UH," said Esmeralda Valdez, executive director of UH Auxiliary Services. "We look forward to collaborating with Aramark and VenuWorks to deliver unforgettable campus events and experiences."

"We are excited to partner with the University of Houston to deliver world-class service and innovative offerings that enrich the guest experience and help position TDECU Stadium as a premier sports and entertainment venue," said Carl Mittleman, president of Aramark's Sports & Entertainment division. "Together with VenuWorks, I am confident we will create new game day and event experiences that further enhance the University's athletic programs and mission to provide unique programming for students and the greater Houston community." 

"This has been an incredible effort on the part of our companies to create a partnership with an important Aramark client. We are thrilled to be involved in this innovative relationship, and I'm proud of the cohesive and efficient management team we have in place," said Steve Peters, president of VenuWorks. "In the past, Robertson Stadium hosted great shows like Alice Cooper and ZZ Top.  We will bring back those memories and create new ones for TDECU Stadium, venerable Hofheinz and the 1,600-seat Cullen Performance Hall."

The partnership between the University of Houston, Aramark and VenuWorks already is delivering top events to Houston, such as music superstars Gordon Lightfoot and John Legend, who have performed to capacity crowds at the University's Cullen Performance Hall. On Sept. 5, platinum-selling artist pop star Jason Mraz will perform in this historic venue. Tickets for this concert and other upcoming events at Cullen Performance Hall can be purchased online at EntertainHouston.com (http://entertainhouston.com/).

Aramark and VenuWorks will be responsible for overall event management of the 40,000 TDECU Stadium (opening Aug. 29), and booking events for the 8,500-seat Hofheinz Pavilion, the historic site of "Phi Slama Jama" and home to Cougar men's and women's basketball. Other athletic facilities include the 3,500-seat Cougar Field for baseball, the 1,200-seat Cougar Softball Stadium, John E. Hoff Tennis Courts and the Tom Tellez Track.

Among Aramark's many local partners are the Houston Astros, Houston Texans, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Methodist Hospital, George R. Brown Convention Center and Houston Independent School District.

About University of Houston
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best colleges for undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 39,500 students in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country. For more information about UH, visit the university's newsroom at http://www.uh.edu/news-events/.

About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) delivers experiences that enrich and nourish people's lives through innovative services in food, facilities management, and uniforms. United by a passion to serve, our more than 270,000 employees make a meaningful difference each day for millions of people in 22 countries around the world. Aramark is recognized among the Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE and World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

About VenuWorks
VenuWorks is a leader in venue management, providing customized solutions for multi-purpose sports, entertainment and recreation facilities, theatres and conference and convention centers throughout the country, offering full service management services including operations, event booking and marketing.  VenuWorks is headquartered in Ames, IA and was founded in 1996.  For more information, please visit www.venuworks.com.

Contact:
David Freireich
Aramark
215-238-4078
[email protected]

Mike Emery
University of Houston
713-743-8186
[email protected]

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SOURCE Aramark