SportsBusiness Daily — Sports Business Resources — your sports business news and information source. Learn More
Advanced
Home About Us Advertise With Us Marketplace/Classifieds College & University Program Subscribe/Trial My Account

Friday
May 16, 2008
Print This Issue


 
MOST VIEWED STORIES
View the top 20 stories
 
Recent Issues
Facilities & Venues

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).

VENUE
TEAM
VIOLATIONS
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).


Get A Free Trial To SportsBusiness Daily

Reader Comments

To post comments on this article, log in or register for a free trial.

Related Stories By Company Related Stories By Sport
World Series Ratings Up 39% Over '08
November 6, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Fox' World Series Clincher Up 40%
November 5, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Selig Says '09 Was MLB's Greatest Season
November 5, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Yankees Win Prompts Tributes To The Boss
November 5, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

World Series Game Five Up 10% On Fox
November 4, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Marketing Execs Rank World Series Players
November 6, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Jamie McCourt Not Reinstated As CEO
November 6, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

World Series Ratings Up 39% Over '08
November 6, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Stores Lacking Matsui World Series Gear
November 6, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

Fox' World Series Clincher Up 40%
November 5, 2009 : SportsBusiness Daily

ALSO IN THIS SECTION


A Publication of Street & Smith's Sports Group.
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (REVISED 2009-06-23) and Privacy Policy (REVISED 2009-06-23).

© 2009 Street & Smith's Sports Group and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Street & Smith's Sports Group.