Things have really amped up at stadiums, apparently, since I last went to a sports event. That would have been a Mariners Baseball game about 7-8 years ago. But back in the day, my ex and I used to host clients in Fluor's private boxes at Rams, Angels and Dodgers games where I'd order all the food from the private dining concierge. We saw what passed at that time for the best of the best.
Since then I've read occasionally about how stadiums have really upped their game (pun intended) when it comes to on-site dining and vendors. Nowadays the vendors are sometimes celebrity chefs and famous local restaurants. Food has become part of the entertainment. Still, I was impressed with this announcement I just read:
The Los Angeles Clippers will have the most high-tech and expensive basketball arena in the world when the 18,000-capacity Intuit Dome opens in Inglewood later this summer. As of mid-June, the arena is still under construction but most of the heavy work is completed on the $2 billion sports and music venue.
Billionaire Clippers owner Steve Ballmer spared no expense in ensuring that the facility would be the most technologically advanced in the country (with frictionless payments, up-close seating, a massive circular screen, and first-rate acoustics) and the most delicious one, too.
Culinary highlights include personal-sized Detroit-style pizzas, double cheeseburgers made with New School American cheese (from LA chef Eric Greenspan), bacon-wrapped hot dogs using Niman Ranch franks, and some supremely good churros served with dulce de leche dip. Pretzels will be hand-rolled by 10 dedicated cooks, while a former Nobu chef will oversee sushi rolls seasoned with dried soy flakes that can be eaten with one hand.