Delaware North set to run concessions at Blue Cross Arena

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Delaware North Companies will be taking over operations of food and beverage concessions, as well as suite catering, at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial, according to job postings on the firm’s website.

The Buffalo-based concessionaire will replace Savor Catering by SMG, which was a branch of arena management firm SMG. The City of Rochester, which owns the arena, evicted SMG as arena operator last month for failure to meet revenue requirements.

Pegula Sports and Entertainment (PSE) of Buffalo has signed a five-month contract to oversee all facets of arena operation and, in doing so, assume all cost liabilities. PSE owns the Rochester Americans hockey team. The contract takes effect Wednesday, and the city and PSE management hope they come to agreement on a long-term deal.

The notice on the Delaware North website says the job openings are contingent upon a signed contract with PSE, but interviews are already underway for several positions. The notice states, in part, “At Blue Cross Arena … we provide food and beverage concessions, and luxury suites catering for our partner.”

Delaware North has ties to one local facility. The company owns and operates Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack. Chairman Jeremy Jacobs owns the NHL’s Boston Bruins, and the company manages hundreds of facilities worldwide, from arenas to stadiums to casinos to airports.

Delaware North already has ties to PSE-run facilities. The privately held company operates concessions at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, home of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres and the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team, as well as New Era Field, home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. All three teams are owned by Pegula Sports.

Leaders of the usher’s union, Local B90, met with Pegula Sports management last week to discuss a continuation of services, and it appears the group will be retained. Local B90 has provided hospitality services at the arena since it opened in 1955.

“They’re stressing customer satisfaction and they want the War Memorial to be a destination of choice for people to spend their entertainment dollars, and we agree with that,” Terry Honan, president of the usher’s union, said. “They think they have a good, successful formula in Buffalo and they want to apply it here.”

Honan said there are 92 members of the union. Their contract with the arena runs through Dec. 31, 2019, but there was a clause that said a new management company would have the right to end the deal.

The group that has provided event security at the arena for several decades also met with PSE officials last week.

PSE officials have said no announcements regarding arena operations are expected before Wednesday, which includes the future of the stagehands/rink crew.

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