Press Release: Food and Beverage Provider Change at Caesars Superdome and Smoothie King Center Sparks Controversy
New Orleans, LA – The Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District (LSED) is set to vote on a pivotal contract Thursday that could see Legends take over food and beverage (F&B) services at the publicly owned Caesars Superdome and Smoothie King Center. This decision comes as LSED’s current provider, Sodexo Live—operating since the late 1990s—approaches the expiration of its contract on July 14.
Legends, which acquired ASM Global in a $2.3 billion deal last August, is poised to begin F&B operations on July 15, just days before the Smoothie King Center hosts UFC 318. The change has stirred anxiety in an already competitive sports venue F&B industry, as industry insiders express concerns over the lack of a public bidding process. Reports indicate that while Sodexo Live submitted a bid to retain the contract, it was declined without a public competition being conducted by LSED.
Critics note that the absence of a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) raises questions about the transparency of the selection process. LSED has referenced a "process" in a May 15 statement, yet specifics remain unclear. A recently issued Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to a few smaller providers has been scrutinized as potentially a superficial attempt to document a competitive process.
Sources in the industry are wary that if Legends takes over, it could set a precedent where ASM Global-operated venues nationwide might transition their F&B contracts to Legends without truly testing the market. This posed conflict of interest could deter rival providers from competing, altering the landscape of public concessionaire agreements.
As the LSED prepares for its decision, stakeholders are closely monitoring the implications of this potential change for the future of food and beverage services at major sports venues.
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