All the Best Foods You Can Eat at Hockey & Basketball Games This Season

From hometown hot dogs to vegetarian poké bowls, a little something for everyone.

By Ethan L. Johns
October 22, 2018

Image: Aramark

Stadium season might be fun for those who like to freeze their fingers off, but there’s nothing like settling into an arena seat to watch your favorite basketball or hockey team.

Even better than the start of the NBA and NHL seasons this year, though, is the food that you’ll be able to eat at the arenas—notably the five basketball arenas and seven hockey arenas where the food service is managed by Aramark.

Perhaps based on the success of its National Hog Dog Day promotion, Aramark’s chef d’oeuvre for this winter season is its Hometown Dogs line (pictured above), which are weiners crafted using locally-inspired ingredients. Some highlights include the Bacon Mac n’ Cheese Dog, served at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottowa, as well as the D.C. Crab Dog, which is served at Capital One Arena and features a hot dog topped with crab dip, aioli and pickled red onion on a pretzel bun.

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Sports fans will also be able to savor the subtle flavors of Tank Nachos, which are basically just loaded-up brisket tacos served in a commemorative hockey helmet at the SAP Center in San José.

This season will also see some seriously cheffy collaborations, including the introduction of David Chang-owned Fuku’s Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich, which is made with habanero pepper-brined chicken thighs on a Martin’s potato roll.

Iron Chef alumnus Cat Cora will also contribute a series of create-your-own Greens and Grain Bowls with Gourmet Flatbreads, for the sports fans looking for a healthy alternative.

Speaking of healthy alternatives, did we mention that there will be a Vegetarian Poké Bowl available at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia?

Then feel free to let go of your diet for dessert, which can be had in the form of the Bubble Taco at the AT&T Center in San Antonio: a bubble waffle stuffed with “nitrogen ice cream” and topped with fruit, whipped cream, chocolate sauce and funnel fries.

Top it all off with self-service beer machines, and you’ve got yourself a gastronomic sports night to remember!

For the full list of new foods you can find this season, see the press release here.


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About Ethan L. Johns

Ethan is the Food News Writer at Genius Kitchen. An expert on the Parisian bistrot, he likes bitters and salted butters, and is no fan of dessert unless it's made with fruit. His hobbies include reading up on the history of borscht and attempting to roll perfect couscous by hand. Twits & Instagram @EthanLJohns