Penn State Athletics Signs Deal with New Food and Beverage Provider for Beaver Stadium, Other Venues

Penn State Athletics has entered what it called a "landmark" multi-year partnership with a third-party food and beverage provider for most of its venues.

Oak View Group's OVG Hospitality will become the first external partner to handle concessions at Beaver Stadium and nine other campus facilities, the athletic department wrote in a news release on Tuesday. The Bryce Jordan Center, which will continue its in-house concessions unit, and Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, which is owned by the university and operated by the State College Spikes, are the only major athletics facilities that are not included in the partnership.

OVG Hospitality will "expand and enhance the offerings," at each of the venues.

Sports Business Journal reported that the deal, for which financial terms were not disclosed, is for 10 years and that OVG was selected through a request for proposals process, beating out Aramark for the contract.

OVG Hospitality has managed alcohol sales at Beaver Stadium since they were introduced in 2022 .

Plans for food and beverage sales under the new partnership include "enhancing the premium experience in suites and clubs, expanding concession locations, increasing food & beverage personnel, and introducing technology to streamline ordering and payment processes to reduce lines and wait times," according to the release.

New menu selections and market concepts also will be introduced throughout the year.

“The future of our food and beverage is exciting as we enter into this transformational partnership with OVG,” Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Patrick Kraft said. “OVG is one of the great hospitality providers in the country and will bring a level of excellence to our expanded and enhanced food and beverage options at our facilities."

Beaver Stadium will see new food and beverage markets, expanded menu selections and "improved premium guest services," this football season. Penn State is in the initial stages of a $700 million renovation of the stadium , a plan that includes upgraded concessions and a 70% increase in concession points of sale.

Work underway this summer will expand three gate entries and create space for about 50 additional concession points of sale this season.

The partnership undoubtedly aims to increase game day revenue streams for Penn State football, which for fiscal year 2022-23 totaled nearly $10 million from program, novelty, parking and concessions sales, up almost $2 million from the prior year

OVG plans to "provide fans with high-quality dining options and utilize local, regional, and national partners on menu items that reflect the local culture," according to the release. Aside from Beaver Stadium, the food and beverage deal includes:

• Pegula Ice Arena
• Rec Hall
• Multi-Sport Facility & Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track
• Jeffrey Field
• Nittany Lion Softball Park
• Panzer Stadium
• Field Hockey Complex
• Blue and White Golf Courses Nineteenth Hole Café

“We look forward to collaborating with our partners at Penn State to set a new standard that will redefine the game day experience for Nittany Lion fans," Chris Granger, president of OVG 360, said. "Our shared commitment to culinary excellence and community impact will be showcased through elevated food and beverage offerings, an authentic focus on sustainability, and meaningful local partnerships. We are honored to be a part of the Penn State family and eager to begin this work together."

The company will also manage "performance dining" at the Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex for Penn State student-athletes. The complex will be undergoing a $31 million project that will renovate the building to include an athletic training table and a wellness and training center for all 31 of Penn State’s varsity teams. Menus at the training table will be designed by athletic department nutrition staff, according to a previous news release.

As part of the partnership with OVG Hospitality, Penn State will become the first university member of Green Operations & Advanced Leadership (GOAL), "a membership network focused on elevating sustainability for arenas, stadiums, convention centers, cultural institutions and other large-scale venues," according to the release. Oak View Group is a founding member of GOAL.

"GOAL will collaborate with Penn State’s sustainability team to quantify the university’s carbon footprint, identify opportunities for waste reduction and energy efficiency, and help align the Athletic facilities’ operational efforts with the university’s robust sustainability goals," according to the release.

GOAL will also support OVG Hospitality for sustainability measures such as food waste reduction and avoiding single-use plastic.

We see tremendous opportunity to enhance all facets of food and beverage operations throughout Nittany Lion athletic venues,” Ken Gaber, president of OVG Hospitality, said. “Drawing from our extensive experience managing operations at numerous major collegiate venues nationwide, we are poised to tailor our expertise specifically to the Penn State fanbase.”

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