Food Network and Delaware North Companies Sportservice Bringing Sloppy Joes to Several NFL Stadiums

Hungry Football Fans Can Enjoy Several Food Network Creations in Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Cleveland, New York and St. Louis

NEW YORK and BUFFALO, N.Y. (Aug. 29, 2012) - Food Network and Delaware North Companies Sportservice are kicking off the 2012 National Football League season by introducing new menu items and bringing back their most popular concession offerings.

Sportservice concessions at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, Soldier Field in Chicago, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Metlife Stadium in New York/New Jersey and the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis will be serving up the Food Network Signature Sloppy Joe. It features ground beef and slab bacon chunks slow-cooked with tomatoes, topped with shredded pepper jack cheese and fried onions, and served with corn chips and a pickle.

Each of the five stadiums will also feature a local Sloppy Joe inspired by the flavors of the region, such as the Chicago Sloppy Joe, topped with giardiniera and provolone cheese. Or customers can "Build Their Own" with a choice of toppings, including pico de gallo, kettle cooked potato chips, sour cream, smoky-sweet jalapeno relish, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, bread and butter pickles, diced onions, griddled onions and peppers, and peppadew peppers.

Fans in Carolina and New York/New Jersey can also belly up to the Food Network Hot Dog Bars and load up a jumbo hotdog with more than a dozen toppings. There are the basics: BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, relish, and sauerkraut. And there are the exotics: bacon chunks, fried onions, corn chips, griddled onions and peppers, shredded cheddar, smoky baked beans, and a smoky-sweet jalapeno relish. Additional toppings will be customized to each location and are inspired by regional tastes. The Hot Dog Bars also feature a fan-favorite side: Food Network's Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese: spicy Buffalo chicken topped with blue cheese and bread crumbs.

Also at Metlife Stadium, Sportservice will again feature Food Network's signature Pub-style Beef Brisket sandwiches topped with cheddar cheese, whole grain mustard and fried onions on a pretzel roll. Jets/Giants fans can also enjoy the local New York Brisket sandwich topped with sliced pepperoncini and smoked mozzarella on a pretzel roll.

"For many Food Network fans, football and food go hand in hand in defining an ultimate game day," said Sergei Kuharsky, general manager of Food Network's new business enterprises. "Our Delaware North Companies partnership allows us to create culinary offerings intended to enhance the stadium experience, connecting through menu items that explore a variety of tastes. Food Network's NFL concessions program is one more touch-point we are thrilled to offer our fans while they are cheering on their favorite team."

As it has the last two seasons, Sportservice will offer guests in the suites and premium areas of its NFL locations a variety of original dishes created in Food Network Kitchens and made exclusively for football fans. In all of the above cities, as well as at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc., Sportservice's newest football operation, the menus will feature dishes such as Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese, Irish Winter Salad, Short Rib and Biscuit Cobbler, and Bacon Sloppy Joes.

"We are focused on creating a unique fan experience at our NFL Stadiums to encourage fans to leave their TVs and attend the games in person. The comfort foods created by the Food Network are a big part of our strategy," said Rick Abramson, president of Delaware North Companies Sportservice.

Delaware North and Food Network, one of the most popular lifestyle networks on television, began their partnership in March 2010. Food Network develops new menu, restaurant and retail concepts for the hospitality and food service provider's locations across North America, including major professional sports venues, airports and other popular destinations.

Food Network also provides training, brand standards, and marketing support. Delaware North provides the key infrastructure, builds and operates new restaurant and retail concepts, and prepares and serves the menu.All food, beverage and retail concepts developed as a result of the partnership carry the Food Network brand.

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About Food Network

FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers' best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring and empowering through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to more than 100 million U.S. households and averages more than 9.9 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine has tripled its rate base and delivers a circulation of 1.45 million. Headquartered in New York, Food Network has a growing international presence with programming in more than 150 countries, including 24 hour networks in Great Britain, India, Asia and Africa. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates Cooking Channel (www.cookingchanneltv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com), Great American Country (www.gactv.com),HGTV (www.hgtv.com), and Travel Channel (www.travelchannel.com), is the manager and general partner.

About Delaware North Companies

Delaware North Companies is one of the largest and most admired privately held hospitality companies in the world. Founded and owned by the Jacobs family for nearly 100 years, it is a global leader in hospitality and food service. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner of TD Garden. Delaware North Companies has revenue exceeding $2.6 billion annually and 55,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.