Aramark, the largest provider of National Football League (NFL) stadium food and beverage, took a brunch-themed angle on the 2017 NFL season. The providers of food and beverage at 10 NFL venues, more than any other company, mixed in all-day brunch items across the nation, along with a few completely fresh takes on everything from new in-stadium concepts to regional favorites.
In an effort to keep the lineup crisp with more than six million football fans served each year across the 10 venues, Aramark worked in the off-season to create a new lineup that followed the latest food trends and fan feedback.
“Food plays a huge role in any stadium event, and is an integral part of what makes the stadium experience come to life,” said Carl Mittleman, president of Aramark’s sports and entertainment division. “This NFL season, we elevated stadium classics by listening to our fans and introducing new menu concepts we are proud to serve on game day.”
The all-day brunchin’ theme plays into the classic tastes expected in a brunch, but with the portability of a traditional stadium meal. Some of the highlights include everything from a Donut Burger at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, that has a fresh burger topped with a fried egg and crispy bacon on a glazed donut bun and the Arrowhead Biscuit at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo., that piles a biscuit sandwich with a hash brown patty, Canadian bacon, a fried egg, bacon jam and cheese, all topped with mini pancakes and bacon.
But the brunch doesn’t stop there. FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, features a grilled bratwurst with sausage gravy, maple hot sauce, bacon crumbles and whipped butter on a Belgian waffle; M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, went Burger Benedict with a ground bacon burger topped with a fried egg, ham, tomato, Monterey jack cheese and hollandaise spread on a toasted English muffin. At NRG Stadium, Houston, Aramark took a breakfast spin on a chicken biscuit by using corn flakes to crust the chicken breast that is topped with a creamy gravy; Soldier Field, Chicago, has a French toast and sausage sandwich that includes Big Fork maple bacon sausage, spiced apple compote, toasted pecans, sharp cheddar cheese and caramel-maple syrup.
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, features a crispy pork tenderloin with smoky bacon topped with yogurt sauce and baby kale on a Belgium waffle. U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, in its sophomore season, is offering a Purple Grip, a buttermilk pancake, breakfast sausage link, bacon cream gravy, crispy tater tots and minced chives. At Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, management opted for a Frosted Flakes-crusted chicken breast topped with Cooper Sharp cheddar cheese and ghost chili honey glazed bacon on a sliced apple fritter; and Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, took a cheesesteak with sharp provolone, arugula, fried egg and roasted garlic aioli and put it on a toasted bagel.
Even with brunch served all game long, Aramark still opted to create a few other key dishes, such as the cola-braised short rib mac and cheese at Arrowhead Stadium, a brat or hot dog boiled in Leinenkugel’s new Anniversary Lager and served Chicago style at Soldier Field, a pierogi dish served three ways in Pittsburgh, fried potato skins in Kansas City and a pork belly sandwich in Philadelphia.
With all the meat moving around these stadiums, Aramark didn’t ignore new dishes on the vegan and vegetarian side. Lincoln Financial Field features a new vegan banh mi with crispy marinated tofu, while FirstEnergy Stadium went with vegan and gluten-free black bean taquitos. M&T Bank Stadium has a veggie burger and dog with mango chutney and a roasted Portobello sandwich.
Along with new dishes, Aramark spent time on original concepts. FirstEnergy Stadium will offer Jane Dough, a gourmet cookie dough provider, and Arrowhead Stadium features Zoom Food with customer-facing, self-ordering kiosks meant to improve the speed of transaction time.
M&T Bank Stadium allows for the NFL debut of Shake Shack, the popular burger joint. The new restaurant inside the stadium includes an assortment of the Shake Shack classics, including the ShackBurger, ‘Shroom Burger and Shack Stack.
Aramark also has a number of celebrity chefs, including seven James Beard Award-winning chefs, introducing new offerings at stadiums this season. Those chefs include the likes of Andrew Zimmern, Chris Shepherd, David Morton, Gavin Kaysen, Grady Spears, Jimmy Bannos Jr., Jonathon Sawyer, Marc Vetri, Michael Symon, Rocco Whalen and Ronnie Killen.
WHAT’S ON THE MENU
Aramark's new NFL brunch menus across the country are in the $9-$15 per serving price range, including:
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
All Day Brunchin’ Donut Burger $13
FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland
All Day Brunchin’ Breakfast Brat $11
SOLDIER FIELD, Chicago
All Day Brunchin’ French Toast & Sausage Sandwich $10
US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
All Day Brunchin’ Purple Grip $10
Arrowhead Stadium, KANSAS City, Mo.
All Day Brunchin’ Arrowhead Biscuit $13
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
All Day Brunchin’ Slim Chicken $14
NRG Stadium, Houston
All Day Brunchin’ Chicken Biscuit $15
Heinz Field, PITTSBURGH
All Day Brunchin’ Steak-N-Eggs $12
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
All Day Brunchin’ Burger Benedict $12.50
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
All Day Brunchin’ Porkopolis Waffle $9.75