BC Place Named Top Sports Venue at 2018 Annual Centerplate Awards Gala
April 26th, 2018
Centerplate at BC Place General Manager Paul McArdle and Culinary Team Garner Recognition Amidst Field of Nearly 100 Sports Venues
Centerplate has announced that the onsite hospitality team at BC Place is being honored with the award for Best Sports Venue, out of its nearly 100 venues throughout North America and the UK.
The distinction was announced at Centerplate’s Annual Meeting at the Raleigh Convention Center earlier this month. The team, led by GM Paul McArdle and Executive Chef William Tse, manages an extensive menu that ranges from stadium classics including hot dogs and burgers made in-house, to gourmet Korean BBQ Chicken Bowls and the famous Beast on Fire and BOOM! Kitchen concepts.
The culinary team set new sales and profitability records in 2017 - while at the same time garnering rave reviews from guests and clients. BC Place hosted several major concerts, including popular acts like U2, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica and Coldplay for sold-out crowds. The team also worked hard serving fans during very successful seasons for their two professional sports teams - the BC Lions Football Club and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The 2017 Canada Sevens, part of the World Rugby Sevens Series, also saw about 30% year-over-year growth from 2016, a testament to the hard work of the Centerplate team at BC Place.
“Vancouver is one of the fastest-growing cities in North America and has quickly become lauded for its diverse entertainment and culinary options,” said Centerplate EVP Greg Fender. “Serving as the hospitality provider at BC Place Stadium, the team here ensures that all guests at BC Place have an experience like no other when they visit this iconic stadium.”
“We challenged our partners at Centerplate to create an innovative food and beverage program that would help position BC Place as the premier stadium in Canada, or as we like to say: ‘Canada’s Home Stadium’,” said Graham Ramsay, Senior Director of Business for BC Place Stadium. “Chef Will and his team continue deliver for BC Place with top quality fan favourites, exciting new concepts, locally sourced & sustainable products and diverse offerings for more than one million guests every year. Congratulations to the whole team at Centerplate!”
The array of options includes a best-in-class menu designed by Centerplate’s award-winning Executive Chef, William Tse and an enhanced beverage program with a wide-range of brews from Vancouver and around the world available from the wildly popular Thirsty Pigeon beverage concession. Fans can choose between a wide variety of meal choices that include premium burgers and sausages made fresh in-house, short rib poutine, pulled pork mac and cheese, crispy Oceanwise certified fried cod tacos and much more. Centerplate takes pride in offering menus that include Gluten Free options, Vegan and Vegetarian dishes, and even Halal offerings for certain events, utilizing local products and suppliers from British Columbia and the surrounding areas.