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Enhance Your Fan Experience with Gold Medal

At Gold Medal Products Co., we understand that stadiums and arenas are more than just venues for sporting events and concerts—they are places where memories are made, and experiences are shared. A crucial part of these experiences is the food and beverages available to fans. We are dedicated to helping you provide high-quality, delectable snacks that enhance the overall fan experience and boost your profitability.

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Top Recommended Equipment for Stadiums and Arenas

Gold Medal Products Co. offers an extensive range of top-quality concession equipment designed to meet the demands of high-traffic environments. From popcorn machines and cotton candy makers to nacho warmers and hot dog rollers, our equipment is built to deliver exceptional performance, reliability, and ease of use. Each piece of equipment is crafted with durability in mind, ensuring it can withstand the rigors of busy event days.

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Top Recommended Supplies for Stadiums and Arenas

Equipping stadiums and arenas with the right concession supplies is essential for ensuring smooth operations and maximizing profitability. Whether it's a bustling sports event or a sold-out concert, having high-quality and reliable concession supplies can make all the difference in delivering an exceptional fan experience. From classic snacks like popcorn and hot dogs to innovative treats like gourmet nachos and specialty cotton candy, the right supplies can elevate your concessions and keep fans coming back for more. At Gold Medal, we offer a comprehensive range of top recommended supply items designed to meet the unique demands of high-traffic venues. Explore our top picks to discover how you can enhance your concession stand offerings and delight your patrons with every bite.

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a line of customers at a stadium concession stand with popcorn and hot dogs visible in background.
 

Why Stadium Concessions are a Top Priority

Stadium concessions are about more than just convenience; they are a vital component of a successful fan experience. Discover the reasons why more operators are investing in their concession stands and how they are delivering the results that matter most to stadiums and arenas.

  • Increased Revenue Streams

    Concession stands provide an additional revenue stream, resulting in enhanced profitability for stadium operators. The sale of food and beverages can significantly boost overall income, especially during events with large crowds.

     

  • Improved Fan Experience

    Fans enjoy the convenience of having easy access to food and beverages without having to leave the stadium. A well-stocked concession stand enhances their overall experience, making events more enjoyable and memorable.

     

  • Higher Attendance and Repeat Business

    Quality concessions can be a draw for fans, encouraging higher attendance and attracting more visitors for events. A positive food and beverage experience can also lead to repeat business as fans return for future events.

     

  • Brand Differentiation

    Offering a variety of unique snacks and beverages, including local specialties and innovative options, can set a stadium apart from others. This differentiation can enhance the venue's reputation and appeal.

     

  • Other Indoor Sports Concession Stands

    Indoor sports like volleyball, wrestling, hockey, and gymnastics also benefit from well-stocked concession stands that cater to the tastes of their enthusiastic crowds.

     

  • Enhanced Atmosphere

    Concession stands contribute to the vibrant and lively atmosphere of a stadium. The smells, sounds, and sights of food being prepared and enjoyed add to the overall ambiance, creating a more engaging environment for fans.

     

  • Sponsorship and Partnership Opportunities

    Concession stands open opportunities for partnerships with food and beverage brands, local and global. These collaborations can lead to sponsorship deals, promotional activities, and shared marketing efforts, further boosting revenue and brand exposure.

     

  • Customization and Flexibility

    Concession stands can be customized to suit the specific preferences of the stadium's audience. This flexibility allows operators to adjust menus and pricing based on event types, demographics, and feedback, ensuring maximum satisfaction.

     

  • Community Engagement

    Featuring local vendors and products can foster a sense of community and support local businesses. This can enhance the stadium's reputation as a community-oriented venue and build goodwill among fans.

     

  • Efficient Operations

    Modern concession equipment and technology, such as mobile ordering and cashless payment systems, can streamline operations, reduce wait times, and improve service efficiency. This leads to a better customer experience and increased sales.

     

  • Marketing and Promotion

    Concession stands provide a platform for marketing and promotional activities. Special deals, themed menus, and exclusive items can be used to attract attention and drive sales during specific events.

     

  • Data Collection and Analysis

    Concession sales data can provide valuable insights into consumer preferences and behaviors. This information can be used to optimize product offerings, pricing strategies, and marketing efforts, leading to more effective operations and increased sales.

     
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Collage of top stadium and arena concession equipment
 

Top Fun Food Equipment for Stadium Concessions

Popcorn Machines

Popcorn is a quintessential stadium snack, beloved by fans of all ages for its satisfying crunch and versatile flavor options.

  • Profitability: With low production costs and high markup potential, popcorn offers substantial profit margins for concession stands.
  • Ease of Preparation: Popcorn machines are easy to operate and can produce large quantities quickly, ensuring a constant supply during busy events.
  • Wide Appeal: Its universal popularity makes popcorn a crowd-pleaser that appeals to all age groups and tastes.
  • Add a Twist: Introduce gourmet flavors like garlic parmesan or spicy jalapeño popcorn to add a unique and premium offering.

Cotton Candy Machines and Supplies

Cotton candy is a nostalgic treat that brings joy and excitement to any event, making it a perfect addition to stadium concessions.

  • Profitability: With minimal ingredients required and the ability to sell at a high markup, cotton candy is highly profitable.
  • Ease of Preparation: Cotton candy machines are straightforward to use and can produce the sweet treat in seconds.
  • Wide Appeal: The colorful and fun nature of cotton candy appeals to children and adults alike, making it a popular choice.
  • Add a Twist: Offer unique flavors like bubblegum or sour apple cotton candy to add variety and intrigue.

Nacho Equipment

Nachos are a versatile and savory snack that fans love to enjoy while watching their favorite events.

  • Profitability: Nachos have a high-profit margin due to the inexpensive nature of the main ingredients like chips and cheese.
  • Ease of Preparation: Nacho machines are simple to use, allowing for quick preparation and easy customization with various toppings.
  • Wide Appeal: The combination of crispy chips and warm, melted cheese is universally appealing, making nachos a staple at stadiums.
  • Add a Twist: Create loaded nachos with toppings such as BBQ pulled pork, jalapeños, and guacamole for a gourmet twist.

Hot Dog Roller Grills

Hot dogs are a classic stadium food that is convenient and delicious for hungry fans.

  • Profitability: With low-cost ingredients and high sales volume, hot dogs provide excellent profitability.
  • Ease of Preparation: Hot dog rollers and steamers make it easy to prepare and serve hot dogs quickly and efficiently.
  • Wide Appeal: Hot dogs are a favorite among a wide range of attendees due to their simplicity and delicious taste.
  • Add a Twist: Offer specialty hot dogs like a Banh Mi Dog with pickled vegetables and sriracha mayo for a unique flavor experience.

Funnel Cakes & Fried Treats

Funnel cakes and fried treats bring the excitement of fairground favorites to the stadium, delighting fans with their indulgent flavors.

  • Profitability: These treats have low ingredient costs and can be sold at premium prices, making them highly profitable.
  • Ease of Preparation: Funnel cake fryers and other fried treat equipment are easy to use and allow for quick preparation.
  • Wide Appeal: The delicious, sugary goodness of fried treats appeals to fans looking for a special indulgence.
  • Add a Twist: Offer creative toppings like caramel sauce and sea salt on funnel cakes to add a gourmet touch.

Fried Foods

Fried foods such as corn dogs provide a hearty and satisfying snack option that is perfect for stadium events.

  • Profitability: Fried foods have low production costs and can be sold at a high markup, ensuring strong profitability.
  • Ease of Preparation: Fryers are easy to operate and can produce large quantities of fried items quickly.
  • Wide Appeal: The crispy, savory nature of fried foods makes them a hit with a wide audience.
  • Add a Twist: Introduce variations like bacon-wrapped corn dogs for an exciting twist.

Pizza and Pretzel Humidified Cabinets

Humidified cabinets for pizza and pretzels ensure that these popular snacks stay warm and fresh throughout the event.

  • Profitability: Both pizza and pretzels have high-profit margins, with low ingredient costs and high demand.
  • Ease of Preparation: Pre-prepared pizzas and pretzels can be kept warm and ready to serve, making it easy to manage during peak times.
  • Wide Appeal: The classic flavors of pizza and pretzels are universally loved, making them a staple at stadiums.
  • Add a Twist: Offer gourmet options like pretzel bites with cheese dip or specialty pizzas with unique toppings like BBQ chicken or pesto.

Snow Cone Machines

Snow cones are a refreshing and colorful treat that is perfect for cooling down on warm event days.

  • Profitability: With low-cost ingredients like ice and flavored syrups, snow cones offer excellent profit margins.
  • Ease of Preparation: Snow cone machines are easy to use and can produce a high volume of servings quickly.
  • Wide Appeal: The vibrant colors and sweet flavors of snow cones appeal to both children and adults.
  • Add a Twist: Introduce unique flavor combinations like tropical fruit or cotton candy. Or add ice cream to increase excitement and variety.
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Collage of top stadium and arena concession equipment
 

Give Your Stadium Concessions a Competitive Edge with 7 Game-Changing Experiences

Technology Innovations

Upgrade your fan experience to an entirely new level with the latest in popcorn machines. The Ready Series is a line of state-of-the-art popcorn vending machines. Serve up fresh popcorn with just the push of a button! Fans will enjoy the convenience of a self-serve popcorn dispenser. And operators will appreciate that it is a low labor solution. Cashless payment systems are available on select models, making these fully functional standalone units. Place these machines where concession stands aren’t available. With the Nayax programmable payment system, you’ll have the ability to access analytics to see your busy times and locations. Plus, wrap your popcorn machine in your own custom graphics! Just imagine your team’s branding on display fully engaging your guests. There’s no better way to sell more popcorn.

Local Flavors

Just like you’re proud of your hometown team, your concession stand is the perfect place to showcase your pride in your area’s local cuisine. Collaborating with regional chefs or creating signature dishes can reflect your community’s unique tastes. This approach allows you to connect with fans and create new experiences for out-of-towners. Examples can be brisket nachos in Texas, New York-style pizza, peach-flavored popcorn in Georgia. Create items that highlight local ingredients, like a hot dog topped with your city’s BBQ sauce or fresh avocado slices. Give your menu a personal touch fans will love!

Food as Engagement

When you freshly prepare food, it creates an engaging and sensory-rich environment for your fans. Draw in customers with the sight of chefs grilling juicy burgers or the aroma of freshly popped popcorn. Imagine a child’s delight watching as a fluffy cone of cotton candy is spun before their eyes. This not only shows the food is fresh, it also makes the visit memorable. And it engages the senses, which encourages impulse buys. Fresh prep is an important aspect of your stadium concession stand strategy. So, explore the many ways you can create a lively, inviting atmosphere.

Let Your Fans Be the Chef

One size does not fit all. That’s why build-your-own options can generate more sales than just grab-and-go. This customization allows guests to create their perfect snack tailored to their own tastes. How does it work? At a snow cone station, choose from a colorful array of syrups, like classic cherry, refreshing blue raspberry, or even tropical piña colada. If you sell gourmet popcorn, allow guests to mix-and-match flavors, like caramel with cheese or buffalo with ranch. Another interactive option is a nachos bar, stocked with salsa, queso, guacamole, chili, and a variety of toppings. These are great ways to add even more value to suites or other VIPs.

Beer Pairings

Connect with guests and encourage additional purchases by offering specials on foods that pair well with beer. A hoppy IPA can bring out the spiciness in buffalo wings. Or fans can enjoy a crisp lager with a salty pretzel or nachos. Even gourmet popcorn can enrich the fan experience. A robust porter pairs well with dessert flavors like caramel. While an Oktoberfest is well suited for spicy flavors, like Cajun. When you make pairing suggestions and offer a special price as an extra incentive, it increases the likelihood of customers buying. Try different pairings and see what sells best.

Go Global

Great food inspiration can come from anywhere in the world! Bring diversity to your menu selection by incorporating flavors that have a worldwide appeal. Signature Shake® seasonings can take any dish and transform it into a culinary adventure. Make churro-seasoned funnel cakes, evoking the vibrant markets of Mexico. Or savor Mediterranean Herb popcorn, infused with spices like basil and rosemary. Make street corn with Cotija & Aleppo Pepper, giving a twist to traditional stadium fare.

Quick & Convenient

Fans don’t want to miss a moment of the action. Help keep lines moving and save on labor with grab-and-go foods. Offering prepackaged items allows them to grab their favorite snacks and get back to their seats quickly. Set up kiosks that serve prepackaged gourmet popcorn like caramel corn or cheese popcorn. Ready-to-eat nachos are also available with convenient single-serving bags of chips and individual cheese cups that can be warmed. Meister Bake pretzels are shelf-stable and do not need to be refrigerated, so you can serve up soft pretzels easily. And cotton candy can be sold in attractive prepackaged containers. Streamline your concession process with these tasty treats.

 
 
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Resources and Tools

retro diner table with ketchup, mustard and hot dogs on it.
How to Reduce Waste in Stadium Concessions
concession food at stadium with a baseball in food tray.
3 Key Strategies for a Successful Stadium Concession Stand
a man carries a mobile concession stand over his shoulders selling popcorn.
6 Tips for Shortening Your Stadium Concession Stand Lines
cotton candy machine with cotton candy and a background of multiple types of large venues.
The Best Commercial Cotton Candy Machines by Venue
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Fun Food Recipes

Glaze Pop® Base Recipe

The Glaze Pop® Base Recipe provides instructions for creating sweet, flavored popcorn coatings using Glaze Pop® products, offering a customizable treat perfect for various occasions.

See Recipe

Strawberry Cream Snow Cones, Shave Ice or Sno Balls

This Strawberry Cream Snow Cone recipe adds a creamy twist to the classic shaved ice, combining strawberry syrup with a drizzle of evaporated milk for a refreshing and delicious treat.

See Recipe

Creamy Jalapeño Ranch Popcorn

The Creamy Jalapeño Ranch Popcorn recipe blends spicy jalapeño flavors with creamy ranch seasoning, creating a savory snack with a bold, tangy kick.

See Recipe

Cookies and Cream Funnel Cake

This Cookies and Cream Funnel Cake recipe takes the classic funnel cake to the next level with crushed cookies and a rich cream topping, perfect for a treat your customers crave.

See Recipe
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Featured Videos

 

How To Clean Your Popper And Kettle

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A - The most recommended equipment for stadium concessions is high-volume equipment such as: 32-oz or larger Cornado poppers, the Ready Series cashless popcorn vending machines, high-volume cotton candy machines, nacho cheese dispensers, twin-bowl Frusheez® frozen slush machines, hot dog roller grills and heated bun cabinets, and humidified pretzel cabinets. Please use the Learn More form below to contact a Gold Medal distributor near you to schedule a consultation and receive specific recommendations for your venue.

A - Typically, the average profit margins for concession items ranges between 70-80%. The costs are low enough that it is possible to add a significant markup.

A - We will work with you to develop the best plan for your specific needs. Some of the considerations include: what equipment you already have, the space available, your staff, your budget, and seasonality.

A - Yes, we have 17 branch locations across the country and a network of hundreds of distributors worldwide. We would be happy to meet with you and find the best solutions for your concession stand.

A - First, you will need to consult with your local health department to determine their requirements. Many locations may not mandate the use of hoods. Keep in mind that Gold Medal does manufacture fully enclosed equipment as an alternative to expensive hood systems.

A - We encourage you to get the word out about your concession stand. Drive traffic through social media marketing with enticing photos of your best-selling foods, run contests, highlight special promotions, and engage with fans. Use in-stadium signage and digital displays to direct fans and showcase your products. Add extra encouragement by having the announcer promote specials. If you have an SMS messaging program where fans can opt-in to receive text messages, offer real-time incentives and discounts.

A - Gold Medal is the industry leader for customer support. We will travel to your location to set up equipment, train staff, and make product. Our goal is that you will be confident in the operation, cleaning, and maintenance of the equipment. For added peace of mind, our warranty on new equipment is two years for parts, 6 months for labor.

A - Choosing Gold Medal means choosing unmatched quality. Our machines are engineered with safety, user friendliness, and reliability in mind. Our experience has proven our equipment can perform in the most demanding commercial settings. Our commitment to quality also extends to our service, with extensive online resources and comprehensive training. If it matters to you, it matters to Gold Medal.

 

Enjoy the Gold Medal Advantage

Gold Medal provides benefits you can’t get anywhere else. Our expertise and support are unparalleled. Our knowledgeable staff will answer your questions from the first consultation to our in-depth training and beyond. We prioritize your needs and goals. Not to mention, Gold Medal’s innovative solutions are made to help your operations run seamlessly. Driven by quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, our equipment and supplies will help you deliver an unforgettable experience to your fans.

 
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Learn More

If you’re ready to see how much potential profitability your stadium concessions have, it is time to connect with Gold Medal. Get all the equipment, supplies, and support you need to succeed. Complete the form below to explore our tailored solutions for stadiums and arenas. Let our team of experts coach you through the process, answer your questions, and show you the perfect products to meet your needs. Reach out now and see how Gold Medal can transform your concessions!

Complete the form below.

Call Gold Medal directly at 800-543-0862.

Find your closest dealer or branch using our Find A Dealer service.

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