Centerplate Rallies the Indianapolis Community for the NCAA Men's Final Four

STAMFORD, Conn., March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Centerplate, the largest hospitality partner to North America's premier sports stadiums, convention centers and entertainment venues, announced today its support of the 2010 NCAA Men's Final Four in Indianapolis through food and beverage services for five days of Final Four festivities beginning April 1st, 2010. Centerplate's Indianapolis partner venues will welcome an expected total of 420,000 fans at events across the city, including Lucas Oil Stadium's two semi-final games, championship game, Final Four Friday® practice viewing and Reese's® College All-Star Game; Murat Theatre's Big Dance® concert series at White River State Park featuring the Goo Goo Dolls, Darius Rucker and Chris Daughtry; Indiana Convention Center's National Association of Basketball Coach's Convention and Bracket Town™ fan prediction party; Indianapolis Zoo's private NCAA reception; and nearly a dozen special events at the NCAA Hall of Champions. As an extension of its commitment to the community, Centerplate's menus will feature many locally sourced items and regional flavors as well as offer comprehensive recycling and sustainability initiatives at the venue grounds.

The announcement comes on the heels of Centerplate's seven-year contract renewal with the NCAA, continuing its services as the NCAA's in-house caterer and pledging a significant investment toward kitchen and dining facility upgrades at the Indianapolis headquarters.

"The NCAA is excited about Centerplate continuing to provide an outstanding customer experience and support for our guests and the greater NCAA community," said Keith Martin, Managing Director of Finance and Operations for the NCAA. "We look forward to working with them on this year's Final Four events and for our future events over the next seven years."

Centerplate is also preparing to serve 71,000 fans at each semi final and final game at Lucas Oil Stadium, the largest seating capacity of any event held at the venue with accommodations for upwards of 8,000 additional fans. With the support of its 1,300 employees and community non-profit partners at Lucas Oil Stadium, Centerplate will offer fan-favorite menu items including the Breaded Indiana Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, Heartland Pot Roast Sandwich, Sweet Potato Fries at the concession stands and a Regional Artisanal Cheese Plate and Shaqbark Barbeque Sauce Meatballs in the facility's 137 suites. Centerplate complements this commitment to local flavors with green initiatives designed to reduce the company's environmental impact on the Indianapolis community. Centerplate offers biodegradable disposable plates, utensils cups and other food service items, recycles all of its used cooking oil and supports Lucas Oil Stadium's efforts to recycle one ton of material at each sold-out event.

"We are glad to have Centerplate's support in hosting this year's NCAA Men's Final Four games," said Mike Fox, Stadium Director of Lucas Oil Stadium. "No matter what happens on the court, we can count on Centerplate to deliver exceptional fanfare."

"The hardest working team in Indianapolis won't be under the hoop at this year's Final Four," said Centerplate's General Manager at Lucas Oil Stadium, John Stockholm, who also operated food and beverage services for Centerplate at the 2006 NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis. "Together, we're ready to offer over 400,000 guests incredible experiences at all of NCAA's Final Four events." Centerplate also looks forward to hosting the 2012 Super Bowl at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Centerplate's support of the NCAA Men's Final Four events follows other recent accomplishments, including providing food and beverage service to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics where Centerplate also sponsored the U.S. Ski Team & U.S. Snowboarding, and successful completion of the company's 12th Super Bowl at Sun Life Stadium in February.

About Centerplate

Centerplate crafts and delivers "Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results." in 250 prominent sports, entertainment and convention venues across North America. Centerplate has provided services to 12 Super Bowls, 19 World Series, key events for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, Art Basel Miami Beach, 15 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration. Visit the company online at www.centerplate.com.

SOURCE Centerplate

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