Rogers Place signs with Aramark, promises focus on local food

Arena concession standsdon't exactly have a reputation for scaling the heights ofculinary excellence.

Whether a massive football stadium or a small-town hockey rink, for decades the term "arena food" conjured up images of greasy hot dogs, limp lukewarm french fries and nachos covered in some sort of cheese-coloured petroleum product.

The Oilers are saying that won't be the case when Rogers Place opens next year. On Thursday,the Oilers Entertainment Group announced that Aramark would be handling food for the new arena.

The group promised the Philadelphia-based company would provide a "focus on fresh, healthy and local food (and) the distinctive tastes of Edmonton."

Fresh, local and healthy aren't words usually associated with stadium food.And Aramark, which provides food services to many stadiums and universities, doesn't have a perfect record.

The emphasis on local food is part of a trend. Many stadiums are trying tomake a statement with their fare.

Last year, Vancouver's Rogers Arena dropped Aramark so they could refocus on new, better food. The new menu boasts everything from smoked salmon rolls to salted caramel meringue.

You can get a smoked meat sandwich while watching a game in Montreal. And fans of the San Francisco49ersget a wide selection of seafood, includingfresh mussels and crab fondue.

And of course, other arenas have gone the other direction bymaking a mark with foods that are antithesis of fancydining,like the Milwaukee Brewers' Porkfait a notorious sundae made from pulled pork and mashed potatoes. (Which has its own Twitter account, because of course it has its own Twitter account.)

Aramark and the Oilers haven't given any specifics on the menu and what local foods they plan to include. But Edmonton AM listeners had some suggestions.