PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Penn Athletics and Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), the Philadelphia-based leader in food services, have renewed their contract to provide food, beverage and retail services for the Quakers’ athletic facilities, including the iconic Franklin Field and The Palestra.
Under terms of the multi-year agreement, Aramark, which has partnered with Penn Athletics since 2001, will also serve as the designated caterer for all on-campus athletics needs. To further enhance the food and beverage experience, Aramark will fund the construction of an on-site kitchen to better service the Division’s needs including catering for its external rentals.
“Improving the fan experience is part of our strategic priority of engagement and this renewed agreement with Aramark is a key part of making our intercollegiate events and the Penn Relays a better experience for our students, alumni and friends,” Director of Athletics Dr. M. Grace Calhoun said. “It was important for us to partner with a global leader with community ties that employs locally and we are excited to have an on-site kitchen to service the needs of our Division.”
Penn Athletics will work with Aramark to expand local menu offerings, utilize innovative technology and improve the dietary offerings of the Division’s nearly 1,000 varsity student-athletes. Aramark will also serve as the concessionaire for the oldest and largest track and field carnival in the nation, the Penn Relays, and the 2018 Ivy League Basketball Tournament at the Palestra, in addition to numerous external events hosted within Penn Athletics’ 24-acre footprint.
“We have long-served our hometown’s most prestigious institutions, sports teams and events and we are honored to continue our partnership with Penn Athletics,” said Carl Mittleman, President of Aramark’s Sports and Entertainment Division. “We look forward to continuing to enhance the game day experience for Quakers’ fans with diverse menu offerings, upgraded amenities and a brand new kitchen.”
As part of its Philadelphia portfolio, Aramark provides food, retail and/or facilities services to all three major professional sports venues (Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field and Wells Fargo Center). Across all of sports, Aramark partners with more than 40 professional teams and 15 NCAA Division I programs. Additionally, Aramark has a long history and extensive experience managing operations for premier live events such as the NCAA Final Four, BCS Football Championship, Super Bowl, MLB, NBA and NHL All-Star Games, World Series, and Stanley Cup Finals.
About Penn Athletics
The University of Pennsylvania’s Division of Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics is a broad-based division comprised of 33 intercollegiate teams, 36 club sport teams, and expansive intramural sport and campus recreation programs, all taking place within 22 athletics and recreational facilities. The facilities are contained within a contiguous 24-acre footprint at the eastern end of campus, commonly thought to be one of the best athletics infrastructures among urban campuses, with assets such as Franklin Field, The Palestra, and Penn Park. The Penn Relays, the oldest and largest track competition held in the United States, attracts over 100,000 spectators and nearly 20,000 competitors each spring. Learn more at www.pennathletics.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, state-of-the-art healthcare providers, the world’s leading educational institutions, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world. Our 270,000 team members deliver experiences that enrich and nourish millions of lives every day through innovative services in food, facilities management and uniforms. We operate our business with social responsibility, focusing on initiatives that support our diverse workforce, advance consumer health and wellness, protect our environment, and strengthen our communities. Aramark is recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE, as well as an employer of choice by the Human Rights Campaign and Diversity Inc. Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.