Levy moves downmarket with latest concessions contract

The University of New Mexico has granted Levy Restaurants an eight-year contract to manage the concessions at all of the Albuquerque school’s athletic venues, giving the Chicago-based vendor another victory in its push for university arena and stadium accounts.

Levy began expanding into college concessions four years ago, targeting big sports schools with large fan bases, including Ohio State, Purdue and Texas A&M. The University of New Mexico is Levy’s first college partner without a football team playing in one of the top five NCAA conferences.

The move into the smaller market underscores the opportunity contractors see in sports concessions of all sizes.

“Levy Restaurants will be the key in enhancing the typical sporting experience and showing our fans what elevated game-day dining is like,” New Mexico Athletic Director Brad Hutchins told Crain’s Chicago Business.

Levy Restaurants' expansions have steadily grown its concessions business. The company currently operates in 43 of the 113 major U.S. sports venues, including Chicago’s Wrigley and U.S. Cellular fields.

Last year, Levy acquired Prom Management Group to become the largest dining and hospitality partner in golf, according to the company.