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Delaware North Companies Sportservice
1915
As the dark clouds of economic recession
continued into 2009, Delaware North Companies
Sportservice was well-prepared and positioned
to face the challenges. Under the leadership
of President Rick Abramson, Sportservice was
undeterred in continuing to expand its client
base, adding some major new accounts and
increasing the scope of several others.
Sportservice was also ahead of the game in
anticipating customers would be looking to stretch
their dollars in 2009. Working with its Major
League Baseball clients, the company introduced
bundled value meals at all of its ballparks and
$1 concession items at select locations. Fans
responded by gobbling up the special deals,
helping Sportservice clients provide another
reason for families to make the ballpark their
destination of choice for entertainment.
“The Jacobs family invented the concessions
business and guided the company through the
Great Depression and other challenging economic
times,” Abramson said. “Sportservice will continue
to innovate and always find ways to succeed.”
Although 2009 was not a banner year for
Sportservice’s Major League Baseball clients –
only two made the playoffs – it was certainly a
memorable season for the St. Louis Cardinals,
one of the company’s oldest clients. The team
hosted the 2009 All-Star Game in July. It
was also a huge and successful undertaking for
Sportservice, which not only handled its normal
food, beverage and retail services at Busch
Stadium, but also at many locations outside the
stadium. Sportservice realized more than $5.1
million in sales for the three days, its largest-ever
single event in terms of revenue. Add to that the
fact that for the first time in the history of the
game, the stadium food service provider (i.e.,
Sportservice) was awarded the right to cater the
galas leading up to the big night.
Earlier in the year, the Columbus Blue Jackets
made their first-ever NHL playoff appearance,
and Sportservice was there to provide Nationwide
Arena fans with great food and merchandise to
mark the occasion.
But the brightest spot for Sportservice once again
was at Delaware North’s own TD Garden in
Boston. On the heels of the Celtics’ 2008 world
championship campaign and playoff appearance
by the Bruins, each team posted an impressive
regular season in 2008-09 – the Bruins led the
Eastern Conference – and followed with two
exciting playoff series. The story was exciting in
2010 as well. The Bruins came from behind to
defeat the Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Region
quarterfinals, while the Celtics again met the Los
Angeles Lakers in the championship round.
The year also saw Sportservice gear up to begin
major food, beverage and retail operations at
three new venues – two in New York/New Jersey
and one in Minnesota – and the company also
landed another major client and venue in early
2010. And as the new year dawned, Sportservice
was working with Food Network on new premium
menu concepts for its Major League ballparks
and other venues.