Aramark Connects With Restaurateur Will Guidara For Food/Beverage Concessions At Planned A’s Stadium On Strip
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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Pubisher-Writer
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — It’s no secret there’s an arms race in the crazy and unusual food category at Major League Baseball stadiums these days. See 26-inch Boomstick Burrito at Texas Rangers games.
Well, the A’s are rolling out a big name in the food biz at their planned stadium on the Strip by saying noted restaurateur Will Guidara is hooking up with the A’s stadium food and beverage concessionaire, Aramark, at the $1.75 billion domed venue scheduled to open in 2028.
The A’s are calling Guidara a “strategic partner” (seems every stadium partner is “strategic”) and wrote in a press release for a Guidara quote: “My team and I couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with Aramark and the A’s on a project that’s about so much more than food.
“Together, we’re bringing intention, creativity, and innovation not just to what we serve, but to how we serve it. From bold ideas to subtle touches, we’re dreaming up ways to transform the stadium into a place where hospitality takes the lead, and every moment feels just a little more magical.”
What makes the Aramark concessionaire deal unique is that the the food and bev purveyor invested in the A’s and the team’s stadium efforts to win the concessions contract. LVSportsBiz.com reported this in late May. Aramark reportedly cut a 20-year, $175 million deal with the A’s to be the baseball team’s F&B vendor.
The Sports Business Journal had reported, “The win didn’t come cheaply for the Philadelphia-based, publicly traded concessionaire. As part of a 20-year deal, Aramark’s total outlay is at least $175M, sources said, with others indicating it could be more. The $175M includes an equity investment into the team of at least $100M and a capex investment commitment of at least $75M.”
Stadium concessionaire Levy Restaurants dominated the Las Vegas market. But no more.
Not only did Aramark get the A’s stadium contract, the NFL Las Vegas Raiders dropped Levy to sign up Oak View Group.
Raiders, in fact, surprised the food/beverage world when the NFL team picked Oak View Group to replace concessionaire Levy Restaurants. The switch came after Raiders owner Mark Davis sold a 7.5 percent minority share to Egon Durban, whose Silver Lake equity firm is an investor in the Oak View Group.
A’s owner John Fisher, whose family owns the Gap retail empire, says he has enough money to build the 33,000-capacity stadium at the southeast corner of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. A 2023 Nevada state bill earmarked $380 million in public assistance to help build the A’s stadium, though the A’s say they will use $350 million of the $380 million.
The next Las Vegas Stadium Authority Board meeting is Aug. 21 at 3 PM at the Las Vegas Convention Center meeting room. The public can comment at the start and the end of these stadium board meetings.
The A’s press release also quoted team president Marc Badain as saying, “This partnership reflects our belief that great hospitality should be at the heart of the fan experience. With Aramark’s culinary expertise and Will’s visionary approach, we’re not just building a ballpark, we’re creating a destination that captures the creativity and energy of the Las Vegas community.”
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