Legends Hospitality Signs Five-Year Deal With Sporting KC, Replacing Delaware North

Sporting KC "has signed a five-year deal with Legends Hospitality to take over all aspects of food service at Sporting Park," according to Don Muret of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Legends "replaces Delaware North Sportservice after the MLS team mutually agreed to part ways with the food provider and American Vending, its local partner at the facility." Sporting KC Chief Revenue Officer Jake Reid said that the decision to switch vendors four seasons after the stadium opened in '11 "was less about the American Sportservice joint venture and more about Legends’ 'best-in-class' philosophy to upgrade the food operation." Team officials "thought seriously about going in-house to run general concessions and premium dining, and talked to teams that run food internally, before deciding that subcontracting remained the best option." Harry Smith, Legends’ on-site GM, "is a holdover from Sportservice." Sporting KC "is Legends’ second MLS account, in addition to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/2 issue).