The Red Sox are "moving to expand the sale of mixed alcoholic beverages throughout" Fenway Park, "drawing concerns from Boston police and Mayor Thomas M. Menino," according to Michael Rezendes of the BOSTON GLOBE. Red Sox officials "told the Boston Licensing Board last week that the team wants the right to sell mixed drinks, in addition to beer, 'at a limited number of stations' throughout the 37,000-seat stadium and on Yawkey Way." Hard liquor is currently available "mainly at refreshment stands serving fans with upper-level premium seats." The BLB postponed a vote "until after a second hearing, scheduled for next Wednesday." Menino yesterday, highlighting "longstanding concern about drinking and rowdy Red Sox fans," said that he believes the team "should continue to restrict the consumption of mixed drinks." Rezendes notes even if the city "approves the Red Sox proposal, the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission would still need to approve it" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/31).
PIRATES' BOOTY: In Pittsburgh, Gretchen McKay reports "gluten-free beer and a veggie cup with hummus are two of the fresh items concessionaire Levy Restaurants will trot out" for the Pirates' April 7 home opener against the Rockies at PNC Park. Fans with club- or suite-level seats also "will be able to choose between a foot-long meatball sub, a chicken-and-grape-tomato-stuffed wrap dressed in basil aioli and the meant-to-be-shared Big Cheese Rip 'n' Dip." Meanwhile, fans without a premium ticket "will help judge the tastier of two new signature" sandwiches. The Pulled Pork and Pierogi Stacker "piles house-smoked pulled pork on top of a Breadworks pretzel roll with caramelized onions and two potato pierogies," while the Stuffed Pepper Hoagie "stuffs a banana pepper packed with sausage and cheese into a hoagie roll, and then tops it with fresh marinara." The winning sandwich, "decided by online voting and total sales, will be announced after July's All-Star break" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/31).
TAMPA TASTE TEST: In St. Petersburg, Tom Scherberger reports the Rays and concessionaire Centerplate this season at Tropicana Field are "embracing a couple of the biggest local dining trends: barbecue and premium burgers." The Batter's Eye restaurant "never caught on with fans and has been replaced with Everglades BBQ Company Smokehouse," which offers pulled pork that is "juicy and tender, though it could have used a bit more smoke." Another newcomer is Wings Around the World, which "features boneless wings." Scherberger writes, "Let's just say they taste like fried chunks of chicken." The "slugger in the lineup" is the "humongous, tasty Cuban burger from the new concession called Burger Up!" The stand will feature "four premium burgers," and the Cuban burger is a "home run" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 3/31).
THE SQUARE DEAL: The Nationals have signed a multiyear concessions partnership with Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group, bringing several eateries now popular at Citi Field to Nationals Park. The deal will create locations for Shake Shack burgers and shakes, Blue Smoke barbecue, Box Frites fries and Mexican-themed El Verano Taqueria at the three-year-old ballpark. The Nationals-USHG alignment will be in addition to the club's primary concessions relationship with Levy Restaurants. The Nationals-USHG deal will also include a heavy bricks-and-mortal component, and as a result, the restaurants will not open until later this spring. Nationals COO Andy Feffer said, "We're really building more of a mini-cityscape with these eateries. It's not just putting up stands. It's going to look more like restaurant fronts” (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal).
NEW MEANING OF FAST SERVICE: In St. Louis, Todd Frankel reports there will be two Bottoms Up taps at two concession stands at Busch Stadium this season. The Bottoms Up draft beer dispensing system "fills plastic cups from the bottom, using a round hole covered by a circular magnet." Anheuser-Busch has an "exclusive marketing agreement with Bottoms Up." The beers cost $8.75 for 20 ounces, "just like any other draft at Busch." The cup "costs more to produce, but selling advertising on the round magnet is expected to offset that expense." There are "plans to grow Bottoms Up" at the ballpark in the future. The Red Sox, Reds, Angels and Giants also will debut the Bottoms Up taps this season (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/31).
