Sports arenas combine courses to create ostentatious menu items
Implications - Given that many sports fans often relish the chance to experience a legendary stadium, sporting organizations are increasing the stakes with one-of-a-kind extravagant dishes that tale traditional foods over the top. The continued emergence of unabashedly unhealthy foods in this industry speaks to the interest in providing a unique and memorable experience for consumers. Given the expensive ticket prices for such stadium events, the average sports fan are treating such outings as an excuse to indulge, both in terms of cost and calories.
Workshop Question - How can you create a space where consumers feel permitted to be authentic to themselves?
Trend Themes
1. Decadent Stadium Foods - Sports arenas are creating extravagant dishes that transform traditional foods into over-the-top culinary experiences, catering to consumer interest in providing a unique and memorable experience.
2. Unconventional Hybrid Foods - As consumers crave new and unique foods, traditional stadium fare is being replaced with unconventional hybrid foods like sushi hot dogs, Krispy Kreme donut hot dogs, and meat-wrapped meat.
3. Insects as Food - As a way to stand apart from other stadiums, Safeco Field offered toasted grasshoppers, which speak to the growing consumer interest in exotic and sustainable food options.
Industry Implications
1. Hospitality - Hotels, restaurants, and resorts that seek to set themselves apart can draw inspiration from the popularity of decadent stadium foods and unconventional hybrid foods by creating unique culinary experiences for their guests.
2. Sports - For sports franchises looking to find new ways to generate revenue, offering unique culinary experiences can be a lucrative opportunity, as evidenced by stadiums offering decadent and unconventional food options at premium prices.
3. Food and Beverage - The emergence of unconventional, hybrid foods and insects as food speak to a broader trend of expanding palates and increased interest in new and sustainable food options, presenting opportunities for entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industry to create new products or cater to these evolving tastes.
