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Centerplate Newsroom

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Dunkin’ Donuts gains big presence at arena

Dunkin’ Donuts has gained a presence at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport.

The 10,000-seat sports and entertainment venue has taken on Dunkin’ Donuts as a new sub-contractor. Under the agreement, Dunkin’ Donuts hot and cold drinks will be sold at arena events.

"Dunkin’ Donuts is always looking for new ways to be there for our customers," said B. N. Mahesh, a Bridgeport-area Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee. "We are proud to have a presence at one of our customers’ favorite local venues.”

New backlit signage and equipment displaying the Dunkin’ Donuts logo have been installed at the arena. The refreshments were available first to attendees of the arena’s recent hosting of the Harlem Globetrotters.

"This agreement enhances our existing menu lineup with premium brand-name products already well known to our customers,” said Lynn Carlotto, general manager of Arena at Harbor Yard.

Arena at Harbor Yard remains the home to Fairfield University men's and women's basketball teams and to the American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The venue also hosts music attractions, family shows, NCAA championships, ice skating, conferences and trade and consumer fairs. Arena at Harbor Yard is managed by Centerplate, “a destination event hospitality company” based in Stamford.

It’s hard to believe that making a difference can be so much fun.

Participants in a St. Baldrick's event shave their heads in exchange for donations towards research.  Efforts fund research& bald heads are a display of solidarity with kids who have cancer.  Since its founding in 2000, the St. Baldrick's Foundation has raised over $69 million by shaving over 107,000 heads in 24 countries.  St. Baldrick's funds more childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. Government.

waiting.jpg hair.jpg line.jpg salon.jpg  shave row.jpg soundtiger.jpg

Last Saturday, March 6th TeamBrent held its annual flagship St Baldrick's celebration at Arena at Harbor Yard. Over 500 men, women and children helped raise over $500,000 in exchange for shaving their heads. It was the third straight year that the Sound Tigers, St. Baldrick's Foundation and TeamBrent teamed up to raise awareness and funds to help fight pediatric cancer.

This has become an annual event that our team looks forward to each season, Sound Tigers President, Howard Saffan said. The efforts of TeamBrent, the St. Baldrick's Foundation and Newtown Saving Bank are immeasurable and the Sound Tigers are proud to partner with their efforts towards raising money for pediatric cancer to find a cure.

ESPN SportsCenter host Chris McKendry kicked off the Opening Ceremonies. Newtown Savings Bank President John Trentacosta shared how happy his group was to help sponsor the event; St Baldrick’s Foundation cofounder and board member John Bender spoke about the need for more research, and TeamBrents cofounder Mike McCreesh closed the ceremonies by reminiscing about the events growth and all the people that made it happen along with what a difference the community is making.

When the ceremonies were over, the celebration really kicked in! The Total Look Salons and Academy shaved 531 heads while the band Vertigo rocked the house. All the while, hundreds of families enjoyed nonstop fun. Kids were entertained by Mickey Kydes Soccer, United Athletic Centers, the Little Gym of Fairfield, Educational Warehouse and We Sell Hoops while hundreds more skated on the Sound Tigers ice. Once Upon a Face Paint, Face Painting by Wells, and Tattoos R Us transformed both faces and bald heads into works of art. The members of The Galactic Empire from Star Wars kept the entire crowd entertained, thanks to a strong presence by the 501st Legion CTG.

Although the event ended at five the fun didn’t stop. All shavees received a free ticket that nights Sound Tigers game, where they were brought onto the ice and honored, while propelling the Sound Tigers to a strong victory over Providence!  

Although the childhood cancer cure rate is now nearing 80%, it really hasn’t moved much in last decade or two, and it is still not 100%. Of the 2,000+ people that attended the event on Saturday, at least three were childhood cancer survivors. And that is a beautiful thing decades ago they wouldn’t have had a chance, but thanks to people who were born long before we were, those three people were able to share the day as Living Proof that our community efforts make a difference. Now we must move that survival percentage from 80 to 100%. No child should ever die of cancer.   We are excited that the science is there to make things better for our children in the future, the problem is that the money isn’t and on Saturday the community came together to help change that.

To learn more about TeamBrent and upcoming events, or to see pictures from the event, go to www.TeamBrent.com

Brian Keegan - Creative Director, Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Top Affiliate of the NHL's New York Islanders

Tel: 203.334.GOAL Ext. 304   Fax: 203.335.1719   keegan@soundtigers.com

Centerplate Names Steve Trotter Vice President of New Business Development

Hospitality Veteran Brings Operations Expertise to Centerplate’s Business Development Team

STAMFORD, CT (MARCH 11, 2010) – Centerplate, the largest hospitality partner to North America’s premier convention centers, sports stadiums and entertainment venues, announced today that Steve Trotter, an extremely experienced General Manager with both stadium and convention center expertise, has been promoted to Vice President of New Business Development. Trotter joined Centerplate in 1999 and carries more than 30 years experience in the food service industry. His accomplishments include food and beverage operations for two MLB World Series’ in Toronto, two Super Bowls in New Orleans and Arizona, two BCS Championship Games, eight Indy Races, multiple NCAA Final Four events and dozens of large-scale musical concerts and entertainment events.
 
As Vice President of New Business Development, Trotter will leverage his deep operations background to partner with prospective clients in developing brand and business enhancement strategies. Over the course of his career at Centerplate, Trotter has managed operations at the National Trade Centre Toronto, Nashville Convention Center, and the Louisiana Superdome, where he acted as an instrumental leader during Hurricane Katrina. Most recently, Trotter served as Centerplate’s General Manager for University of Phoenix Stadium, serving as a key member of the leadership team that opened the landmark Arizona sports venue in 2006.
 
“We are excited to bring Steve Trotter onto our senior new business development team,” said Des Hague, President and CEO of Centerplate. “After over a decade of exceptional service to Centerplate and a pristine 30-year record in the food service industry, Steve is the perfect choice to assist in building Centerplate’s business.”
 
Trotter earned a post-secondary education from York University in his native Toronto. His promotion underscores Centerplate’s commitment to creating extraordinary hospitality experiences for its guests while increasing returns for clients. The news comes on the heels of other recent Centerplate accomplishments, including acting as official food service partner to the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding; serving over 900,000 meals at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver; and hosting over 140,000 fans in South Florida during the 2010 Pro Bowl and Super Bowl XLIV.
 
About Centerplate
Centerplate crafts and delivers “Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results.” in 250 prominent sports, entertainment and convention venues across North America. Centerplate has provided services to 12 Super Bowls, 19 World Series, key events for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, Art Basel Miami Beach, 15 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration. Visit the company online at www.centerplate.com.

Convene Magazine – Centerplate Raises the Bar on Convention Center Cuisine

After showcasing their talent at the James Beard Foundation’s “Unconventional Chefs” dinner, Centerplate chefs retire the old ‘chicken or fish’ dilemma in favor of thoughtful, modern cuisine in the realm of contemporary fine dining. Convene Magazine offers this take on Centerplate’s impressive menus and mission.

Morris and Palais win Reader's Choice Awards

The Morris Performing Arts Center and the Palais Theater have been awarded "Favorite Entertainment/Live Performance Theater" and "Favorite Banquet Facility" in South Bend, Indiana by readers of the South Bend Tribune. These awards mark the 8th consecutive win for the Morris Performing Arts Center and the 7th consecutive win for the Palais Theater.

Centerplate receives rave reviews from Arizona newspaper The Daily News-Sun

The Daily News-Sun of Sun City, Arizona recently reviewed our hospitality services at Peoria Stadium, spring training home to the Sand Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners.

 
Excerpted from Joe Slagowski’s March 9th article in the Daily News-Sun:
 
Peoria Stadium is offering some new concepts for fans.
Along the third-base concession stand is Nacho Mamma’s, which sells nachos as well as taco salads, burritos, rice bowls, macho nachos with chicken, beef and vegetarian options, said Chris Eason, operations manager. Prices range from $5 to $7.
Arthur Herrera of Phoenix, a worker at the stadium, said the chicken burrito was good and a nice break from hot dogs, which are often served for workers.
Chuck Eley of Peoria said he goes to spring training games Valley wide and has found that Peoria Stadium is the place to go for burgers.
"This is the best burger in Arizona," Eley said of his regular burger purchased at the concession stand on the concourse near home plate. "And the price — $6 — is good."
Those wanting a taste of the Cactus League can purchase one of the stadium’s specialty burgers, which feature flavors signifying 10 Cactus League teams’ hometowns.
"The Mariners’ burger is French onion with provolone cheese, the Rangers’ burger is a wild west picante burger with cheddar, and the Padres’ burger has avocado and pico de gallo," Easom said.
Peoria is introducing wings, too, in 10 different flavors, Eason said.
"It’s a sports venue, so what goes better than pizza, beer and wings," he said.
Those wanting more traditional fare can purchase $2 regular hot dogs on Wednesdays, or $4 any other day.
 Sodas range from $3.75 to $5, popcorn is $3, beer ranges from $5.25 to $7.

Arena at Harbor Yard Welcomes Dunkin' Donuts to the Venue

BRIDGEPORT, Conn., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Arena at Harbor Yard, a 10,000 seat, multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue in southwestern Connecticut, announced today a new sub-contractor agreement with Dunkin' Donuts. Under the new agreement, Dunkin' Donuts hot coffee, iced coffee, Coolattas®, lattes hot and iced and hot chocolate will be sold at Arena events.
 
"Dunkin' Donuts is always looking for new ways to be there for our customers," said B. N. Mahesh, local Dunkin' Donuts franchisee. "We are proud to have a presence at one of our customers' favorite local venues, Arena at Harbor Yard."
 
New backlit signage and equipment displaying the Dunkin' Donuts insignia have been installed. Dunkin' Donuts hot coffee, iced coffee, Coolattas®, lattes hot and iced and hot chocolate became available for purchase on Saturday, when the Arena hosted the Harlem Globetrotters.
 
"We are thrilled to offer Dunkin' Donuts selections to our guests at Arena at Harbor Yard," said Lynn Carlotto, General Manager of Arena at Harbor Yard. "This agreement enhances our existing menu line up with premium brand name products already well known to our customers."
 
Arena at Harbor Yard remains the home to Fairfield University Men's and Women's Basketball and the American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The venue also hosts major music attractions, various family shows, NCAA championships, ice skating spectaculars, conferences as well as trade and consumer fairs.
Arena at Harbor Yard is managed by Centerplate, Inc.
 
About
 
Arena at Harbor Yard
 
Arena at Harbor Yard is a state-of-the-art 10,000-seat entertainment and sports venue located along Interstate 95 at the junction of Routes 8 and 25 in Bridgeport, CT.  The Arena opened on October 10, 2001.  It is the home of the American Hockey League Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the premier affiliate of the National Hockey League New York Islanders. Arena at Harbor Yard is also the home court for Fairfield University's Men's and Women's NCAA Division I basketball teams.  In addition, Arena at Harbor Yard presents the most popular touring events including Smucker's Stars on Ice, World Wrestling Entertainment, Disney on Ice and Harlem Globetrotters.  Concerts, consumer shows, business and special events round out the entertainment schedule.
 
About Centerplate
 
Centerplate crafts and delivers "Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results." in 250 prominent sports, entertainment and convention venues across North America. Centerplate has provided services to 12 Super Bowls, 19 World Series, key events for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, Art Basel Miami Beach, 15 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration. Visit the company online at
www.centerplate.com.

Centerplate Hosts Celebrity Chefs and Florida International University Students at Miami Beach Convention Center for South Beach Wine & Food Festival

Hospitality Partner Showcases Culinary Talent at Grand Tasting Village with Specialty James Beard House Menu

 

 STAMFORD, Conn., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Centerplate, the largest hospitality provider to North America's premier convention centers and entertainment venues, announced today its support for the South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami Beach from February 25 to 28, 2010. The 10th annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival, which last year hosted over 50,000 guests, is a distinguished, open-air event showcasing the talents of the world's most renowned chefs and personalities including Rachel Ray, Bobby Flay and Anthony Bourdain. As part of its support, Centerplate will donate its kitchen and facility resources at the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) to celebrity chefs and Florida International University (FIU) students in preparation for the festival's marquee Perrier-Jouet BubbleQ event, a celebration of barbeque and champagne pairings. Centerplate will also build its own branded installation on the sand in the Grand Tasting Village, exhibiting Florida-flavored dishes from Centerplate's esteemed chefs, including MBCC Executive Chef Jonathan Barnett's menu that was showcased at the James Beard House last month.

Celebrity chefs like Emeril Lagasse, Todd English and Tony and Pat Neely will take over the gourmet kitchen at Centerplate's partner venue, the MBCC, teaming up with culinary students at FIU to execute menus for the popular Perrier-Jouet BubbleQ party on Friday, February 26. Because of Centerplate's expansive kitchen facility, this will be the first year that all participating chefs will be able to prepare their BubbleQ dishes under the same roof. Select BubbleQ dishes include Michelle Bernstein's Kobe Beef Short Rib Taco, Tim Love's Lamb Belly BLT and Emeril Lagasse's Creole Pulled Pork Sandwich with Spicy Coleslaw. Centerplate will also execute the set-up and delivery of each dish to BubbleQ's private beach location.

 "Our partnership with Centerplate allows our students the opportunity for interaction with great role models like Executive Chef Jonathan Barnett," said Michael Moran, Chef-Instructor at Florida International University and Culinary Coordinator to the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. "Being able to work together with Centerplate and their team in a state-of-the-art facility is an example of the hospitality industry at its best." FIU's School of Hospitality is a direct beneficiary of proceeds from the BubbleQ and the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, which to date has raised over $8 Million for the University.

At Centerplate's installation at the Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village on Saturday, February 27 and Sunday, February 28, Centerplate's local culinary talent including Jonathan Barnett and Marcia Brooks of the Miami Beach Convention Center, Orlando Morales and Dan Filarecki of Sun Life Stadium and Peter Koralewicz of the Bank Atlantic Center, will offer items from Barnett's menu at the James Beard Foundation's recent "Unconventional Chefs" dinner in New York City. Guests to Centerplate's booth will enjoy Chorizo-Spiced Duck with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Toasted Cornbread Croustade and Valencia Orange Glaze and Freshwater American Snapping Turtle Soup with Spinach, Rainwater Madeira and Yuca Crisp, both dishes that reflect Barnett's penchant for local flavors and techniques.

"We are proud to open our kitchen at the Miami Beach Convention Center to the chefs and students at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival," said Bob Balsam, General Manager at the Miami Beach Convention Center. "Centerplate has long given our facility a reputation for culinary excellence and we look forward to showing off the resources and menus that keep our guests raving."

"This is an amazing opportunity for Centerplate to showcase our culinary talent for an audience of the country's gourmet elite at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival," said Eric Bayne, Centerplate's General Manager at the Miami Beach Convention Center. "Chef Barnett's James Beard House menus show the level of expertise and service we offer our clients every day."

This announcement follows other recent Centerplate accomplishments, including acting as official food service partner to the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding as well as well as playing a significant role in hosting the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver during which the company expects to serve over 900,000 meals.

 About Centerplate

Centerplate crafts and delivers "Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results." in 250 prominent sports, entertainment and convention venues across North America. Centerplate has provided services to 12 Super Bowls, 19 World Series, key events for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, Art Basel Miami Beach, 15 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration. Visit the company online at

 

Centerplate Donates Services for Jerry's Artarama "Art for Haiti" Auction

Art for Haiti Auction and Gala Held by Jerry's Artarama

Jerry Artarama is proud to sponsor the upcoming charitable art auction and gala benefitting Habitat for Humanity's relief efforts in Haiti. The Art Auction and Gala event will be on Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Raleigh Convention Center located in Raleigh North Carolina.

Art Auction and Gala
Art Auction and Gala

Art for Haiti: Auction and Gala is being held by Jerry's Artarama to raise money to help build homes for victims of the Haitian earthquake and to promote talented artists from all over the United States. 2D art from all types of media will be donated by national artists for a live and silent auction with proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity's relief efforts in Haiti. The Raleigh Convention Center donated 5,500 square feet for the black tie optional event and Centerplate, a premier hospitality company currently serving the 2010 Winter Olympic Game has generously donated all of the catering for the Art Auction and Gala.

 "We have been really touched by the tragedy in Haiti and want to do all we can to help out," said Heather Goldstein, VP of Artist Resources. "We proudly chose Habitat for Humanity to help us help Haiti." Since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake, over a million people were left homeless and 200,000 homes were severely damaged or destroyed. For twenty-six years Habitat for Humanity has been serving families in Haiti. One hundred percent of the auction proceeds will go toward Habitat for Humanity's goal to help improve the lives of 50,000 Haitian families.

Ticket Information:
Tickets for the event are only forty-five dollars and include dinner catered by Centerplate and a live and silent art auction.
Contact: Heather Goldstein heather@jerrysartarama.com to purchase tickets.
Artists who would like to participate are encouraged to send 2D artwork to:

Jerry's Artarama
Attn: Heather Goldstein
6104 Maddry Oaks Ct
Raleigh, NC 27615

By March 28, 2010 for the silent auction and by March 20, 2010 for the live auction. Jerry's Artarama highly recommends dropping off work at the upcoming event, Art-A-Thon for Haiti on March 20 at White Collar Crime to give all attendees a taste of what they will see at the auction.

For more information about the event visit: Art Auction and Gala For Haiti at http://www.jerrysartarama.com/community/Art-Auction-and-Gala/ or contact Heather Goldstein at 919-878-6782 ext# 115 or heather(at)jerrysartarama(dot)com.


About Jerry's Artarama Art Supplies:
One Man's Vision To Provide True Value For Artists ...Jerry opened his own art materials and supplies store in 1967, introducing thousands of budding and established artists to discount art supplies. Jerry believed in treating customers like family, and that tradition continues to this day. Jerry's Artarama is one of the largest online retailers of art supplies and materials.

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