After the widespread devastation of the COVID era’s first year, when venues were either closed completely to fans or only allowed restricted numbers, the sports and entertainment concessions market began a recovery in 2021 that accelerated in 2022 to near-normal levels. That meant that concessions operators could again flex their creativity when it came to menu offerings, while the pandemic’s impact on operations ignited what is sure to be a growing and ongoing phenomenon—the use of cutting edge technology ranging from in-seat ordering and code-activated locker pickup to high-tech no-checkout retail spaces.
FM followed these trends over the course of the year, highlighting innovations, adjusted practices, new menu developments and out-of-the-box initiatives that are changing the way sports/entertainment catering and concessions are offered. Here are a dozen features from the past year focused on these developments…
