Store developed and operated by Delaware North Companies transforms to become exclusive space on game days for New York Giants or New York Jets
New Meadowlands Stadium Store Garners Seven Retail Design Awards
BUFFALO, N.Y (Aug. 15, 2011) – The New Meadowlands Stadium’s team store has been recognized with seven retail design awards for features that allow it to become exclusive space on game days for either the New York Jets or New York Giants.
The 9,600-square-foot Flagship Store Powered by Reebok features customized lighting and a white design finish that can be illuminated in either Giants blue or Jets green. A large LED video wall and illuminated projections of either Jets or Giants players add to the feel, while customized and revolving perimeter display panels allow for an easy switch of merchandise for game days.
The store opened in August 2010 during the stadium’s first year of operation. Delaware North Companies oversaw the design and development of the store and operates it through its Sportservice division, the exclusive food and retail services provider at the stadium for the two NFL teams and the New Meadowlands Stadium Corp.
Six of the seven awards garnered by the store are from national retail design organizations:
- Association for Retail Environments (A.R.E.) – The store won three A.R.E. design awards in March: Outstanding Merit in its category (Softline Specialty Store) and special awards for its branded LED lighting and multi-brand store fixtures. The store was featured on the November-December cover of the A.R.E. trade magazine, Retail Environments.
- Chain Store Age – In February the store captured the Innovation Award from trade magazine Chain Store Age in its Store of the Year Retail Design Competition. The store also won honorable mention in the Soft Lines category for stores of 5,000 to 15,000 square feet.
- The Retail Design Institute – The store won an Award of Merit in the category for specialty stores of 5,001 to 10,000 square feet.
The store also received an Award of Excellence from the Columbus (Ohio) Society of Communicating Arts at its Creative Best Awards in November. Columbus-based design firm Chute Gerdeman, whose other high-profile projects have included M&M’s World and Mattel’s Barbie Shanghai, served as Delaware North’s design architect on the project and was recognized for that role in the national awards, as well.
Known for its hospitality management and food service at major sports venues, airports and national parks, Delaware North has also established itself as a full-service retail partner for those type of unique locations. The company has created and operates dozens of specially branded retail stores at such iconic locations as Yosemite National Park, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Detroit Metro Airport, in addition to New Meadowlands Stadium and 16 other major professional sports venues.
“We are grateful to the stadium corporation, the Giants and the Jets for this tremendous opportunity and thank Chute Gerdeman and our other partners on the project for their great work,” said Jeff Hess, Delaware North’s vice president of retail. “We’re very proud of the success of the New Meadowlands Stadium store and that fans last season found it to be a great part of their game day experience.”
The store, one of the largest in an NFL stadium, also features a unique interactive zone where fans can “kick” a gesture-sensitive projected football on a projected miniature football field on the floor. Additionally, the zone boasts NFL-themed video games surrounding the field.
More than 50 Sportservice associates operate the store on game days. The store carries the broadest available selection of Jets and Giants apparel and merchandise, including home and entertainment products, jewelry, and tailgating equipment.
Sportservice’s ability to quickly transform the store from Giants to Jets has been noted in The New York Times, Sports Business Journal, and The New Yorker. In addition to Retail Environments, it has been featured in the trade magazines Chain Store Age, Digital Signage Today, and Sound & Communications.
About Delaware North Companies Sportservice
Delaware North Companies Sportservice is one of the nation’s leading food, beverage and retail management companies. Sportservice provides concessions, gourmet catering and fine dining operations at more than 50 professional sporting venues, entertainment complexes and convention centers across the United States and Canada. Sportservice is the provider of choice for an impressive client roster, including the World Series, the National Hockey League’s and Major League Baseball's All-Star games, the Stanley Cup Championships and the Olympic Games. For more than 90 years, Sportservice has demonstrated that it knows what it takes to effectively develop, operate and manage multifaceted kitchens, restaurants, suites, fine dining and retail facilities to meet the changing demands of today's fans. From introducing healthier food selections and creative cuisine to twists on traditional fare and new organic options, Sportservice continues to innovate and enhance the fan experience.
About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the world’s leading hospitality and food service providers. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner of TD Garden. Delaware North Companies is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States with revenues exceeding $2 billion annually and 55,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visitwww.DelawareNorth.com.