Royals Turn to Aramark

The Kansas City Royals have reached an agreement in principle with Aramark Corp. to provide all concession and retail merchandise services at Kauffman Stadium starting in 2009. Details of the agreement haven’t been finalized, but the proposed contract is for 10 years.

Centerplate, which had been operating at Royals Stadium since it opened in 1973, will continue to operate at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. Royals Stadium and Arrowhead Stadium are both part of the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City. The Royals had renewed Centerplate’s retail/concessions contract for one year in 2007. Meanwhile, Aramark has been the provider of premium catering services at Royals Stadium for past two seasons.

Aramark also provides concessions and merchandising services at seven other Major League Baseball ballparks: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Coors Field in Denver, Fenway Park in Boston, Minute Maid Park in Houston, Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, PNC Park in Pittsburgh and Turner Field in Atlanta.