Rendering for new People's Stadium, Minneapolis.
Aramark's has been selected to negotiate with the Minnesota Vikings and stadium officials to provide food and drink in the new football stadium. The selection makes the Philadelphia-based concessions company a shoe-in for the new the $975-million People’s Stadium, scheduled to open in 2016 on the site of the team's current home, the Metrodome, in downtown Minneapolis.
Aramark is the current concessionaire for premium levels at the Metrodome, while Centerplate had handled concourse level concessions. The new agreement with the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority essentially gives Aramark full control of concessions at the building.
Competition for the contract had been fierce and Aramark was chosen out of a field of six applicants that had included Levy, Centerplate, Legends and Delaware North’s Sportservice.
“They came in, made a strong proposal in terms of their creativity with food selection as well as the financial aspects,” said Michele Kelm-Helgen, chair of MSFA.
“They also had a lot of good design expertise to offer and we thought it was critical to select them early in the process so that they could be involved in the design of the facility.”
A final deal has not been reached and Kelm-Helgen said details of the contract would not be released until after an official agreement had been reached.
Aramark serves 13 National Football League venues and has several clients in Minneapolis, including TCF Bank Stadium, as well as all campus dining at the University of Minnesota and the corporate headquarters for 3M and UnitedHealth Group.
As for the food itself, fans should expect a high-quality, modern offering, on par with what is available for Minnesota Twins games at Target Field.
"The Twins have set a high bar, and it's a great experience at the ballpark," said Lester Bagley, Viking' vice president of public affairs and stadium development. "We need to try to match or exceed that, and we're confident we'll deliver that with this team we've selected."
Kelm-Helgen is part of a four-part committee involved in selecting outside contractors for the stadium that also includes Minnesota Vikings’ Project Executive Don Becker and CFO Steven Poppen.
“Next, we will be looking to select a building operator and marketer and we’re getting ready to begin accepting RFPs,” she said.
Interviewed for this article: Michele Kelm-Halgen, (612) 335-3319; Lester Bagley, (612) 448-3934