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Delaware North extends historic connection to Milwaukee Brewers

Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise the Milwaukee Brewers has extended its long-standing food and beverage partnership with Delaware North Sportservice.

The long-term contract extension sees both partners make financial commitments for continuous and dedicated development of the F&B experience at American Family Field (pictured) and American Family Fields of Phoenix, the Brewers’ Spring Training home.

The new contract extends a partnership that began in 1970, when the Brewers began playing in Milwaukee. Delaware North will continue managing concessions, suites, catering and premium areas, along with Restaurant to be Named Later.

Delaware North took over operations of Restaurant to be Named Later, a street-side sports bar and restaurant at American Family Field, in 2020. “Delaware North has been a partner of the Brewers since Day 1, and that’s a major point of pride for our company,” said Jerry Jacobs Jr., CEO of Delaware North.

“From the original and memorable confines of the old Milwaukee County Stadium to the world-class American Family Field, it’s been an honour serving Brewers fans every step of the way.

“We are proud to have played a role in assisting (former MLB commissioner) Bud Selig in bringing the Brewers to Milwaukee, and we know the Brewers are in great hands with principal owner Mark Attanasio and leaders such as Rick Schlesinger, Brewers president-business operations and David Stearns, Brewers president-baseball operations. We look forward to working together to continue to evolve the fan experience.”
 
Recent highlights of Delaware North’s hospitality operations at American Family Field include a $20m (£14.6m/€17m) renovation in 2017 to expand the F&B offerings and improve concessions and concourse layouts.
 
Schlesinger said: “The Brewers history in Milwaukee is interweaved with our history with Delaware North. They have been with the franchise since the beginning, serving our fans and consistently providing a food and beverage program that is an essential part of the gameday experience.

“We are excited to extend this fruitful relationship for many years to come while committing to further developing and enhancing the hospitality experience at American Family Field.”
 
As part of its concessions program, Delaware North has also partnered with many local non-profit organisations to operate the ballpark’s concession stands as a fundraising opportunity with a percentage of sales benefiting their fundraising cause. More than $1m is earned each year by local Milwaukee groups as part of the program.
 
In addition to its operations in Milwaukee, Delaware North has also provided concessions and premium dining services at American Family Fields of Phoenix, the Spring Training home of the Brewers since 1997.
 
Delaware North Sportservice currently provides hospitality services at 11 MLB ballparks.

Image: Brewersfan1061/CC BY-SA 4.0/Edited for size