The Canucks have "decided to run their own food and beverage service, which means U.S.-based Aramark and about 1,000 people who work for them at Rogers Arena are going to be looking for new jobs July 1," according to Frank Luba of the Vancouver PROVINCE. Aramark said that the change "is in dispute," but Canucks COO Victor de Bonis "made it clear changes are coming." de Bonis said, "We plan to unveil our new program, beginning July 1, 2014. Aramark has been our provider since we opened our arena in 1995 and we thank them for their years of service. We're now in the process of reviewing all of our options for the new food and beverage program." Aramark in an e-mail "confirmed the Canucks' notice to end their contract." The company in the e-mail wrote, "While there is a dispute related to this notice, we believed it was important to inform our employees." Aramark Corporate Communications Dir David Freireich said, "I can't get into any detail, but essentially we disagree with the basis that they used to cancel our contract." He would "not indicate when or if there would be legal action" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 3/12).
