TD Banknorth Garden Sets Per Cap Sales Record For Game Six

By Don Muret, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

"Beat LA" Merchandise Helps Boost TD Banknorth Garden's Per Cap

Delaware North Sportservice generated a combined food, beverage and retail per cap of $39.55 for Tuesday's NBA Finals Game Six at TD Banknorth Garden, setting records for the 13-year-old arena. The Celtics beat the Lakers for the NBA title that night in front of a sellout crowd of 18,624. The splits were $26.47 for food and drink, including suite catering, and $13.08 for merchandise, said TD Banknorth Garden President John Wentzell. The general food concessions per cap was slightly more than $14. As expected, the retail average, fueled by new lines of "Beat L.A." merchandise, increased significantly over the $4 per cap during the first three rounds of the postseason. Delaware North Cos., Sportservice's parent, owns and operates the arena.

L.A. STORY: Meanwhile, in L.A. Staples Center surpassed all concessions and retail records for the NBA Finals for its fifth championship series in nine years at the facility, said Lee Zeidman, AEG's Senior VP & GM. The total average per cap for Games, 3, 4 and 5 was $44.38, which included $15.98 for regular concessions, $13.49 for premium food and $14.91 on the retail end. Levy Restaurants has the arena's food contract, and AEG Merchandising operates retail.