Portfolio Studies Ballpark Cleanliness; Rockies' Coors Field Tops
The Yankees and Mets play in ballparks with "some of the best inspection records," while the Angels and A's have "far more food fouls than any other team," according to PORTFOLIO's Jessica Liebman in a study of health-code violations at 11 MLB ballparks. Most of the Angels' and A's violations were "minor," but some were "disgusting." Teams contract out food service to a "handful of vendors, though team management is responsible for stadium cleanliness." The following presents the results of all 11 ballparks included in the study (PORTFOLIO, 6/'08 issue).
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VENUE
|
TEAM
|
VIOLATIONS
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REVENUE
|
|
Angels
|
Angel Stadium
|
732
|
$200M
|
|
A's
|
McAfee Coliseum
|
493
|
$154M
|
|
Astros
|
Minute Maid Park
|
107
|
$193M
|
|
Giants
|
AT&T Park
|
88
|
$197M
|
|
Mariners
|
Safeco Field
|
67
|
$194M
|
|
Mets
|
Shea Stadium
|
58
|
$235M
|
|
Phillies
|
Citizens Bank Park
|
58
|
$192M
|
|
Yankees
|
Yankee Stadium
|
45
|
$327M
|
| Brewers |
Miller Park |
36
|
$158M
|
| Royals |
Kauffman Stadium |
32
|
$131M
|
| Rockies |
Coors Field |
16
|
$169M
|
 |
McAfee Coliseum Receives
493 Health-Code Violations |
IN THE DIRT: In Oakland, Angela Hill reported the 493 violations at the A's McAfee Coliseum went directly to concessionaire Aramark and "ranged from food being exposed to 'overhead leakage, dirt, insects, rodents and chemical contamination' ... to minor incidents of empty paper towel racks and soap dispensers." Aramark Senior PR Manager David Freireich confirmed that the company "received notice of the 493 violations," and said that the violations were "corrected immediately." Freireich in a statement said, "It's our top priority to ensure the food served at McAfee Coliseum is of the highest quality and prepared in the safest environment possible. We take all violations very seriously and take the necessary corrective action to address the issues identified by the health department." A's VP/Broadcasting & Communications Ken Pries: "It is really Aramark's responsibility to facilitate the recommendations of the health department." Alameda County (CA) Public Health Department Supervisor Ron Browder: "That number sounds like a lot when you hear it, but you have to realize it's a huge facility with many vendors and concession stands. We could have been citing the same violations over and over again" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 5/14). In N.Y., Rich Schapiro reported Angel Stadium in '07 tallied 732 violations, including a "cockroach infestation in the Stadium Club kitchen" in August. There also was a "major vermin violation in April that forced the shutdown of a food stand." However, Shea Stadium had "only 58 violations in 2007 -- though there was evidence of mice, rats and flying insects found in food areas during a June inspection" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/12).
HEAD OF THE CLASS: In Denver, Nick Groke reported the Rockies in '07 had only 16 violations, the fewest problems among teams surveyed, though inspectors "found Coors Field's main kitchen to be 'unwholesome.'" The survey "doesn't account for the aggressiveness of inspectors" (DENVER POST, 5/14).
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