WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 26, 2009) - D.C. United, together with the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, have announced Sodexo, Inc., a leading integrated food and facilities management services company based in Gaithersburg, Md., as the exclusive food and beverage concessionaire at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. Sodexo will manage all catering and concession operations at the stadium as well as feature increased food service locations on all concourse levels to better serve the needs of guests attending events. Sodexo will be introduced to fans attending D.C. United’s home opener against the Chicago Fire this Saturday.
“Sodexo is well known for their quality service and products,” said D.C. United President Kevin Payne. “We look forward to working with them and the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission to provide outstanding concessionaire service at D.C. United matches.”
“We are pleased to have Sodexo come aboard as a valued partner to the benefit of our long-term service and business objectives,” added Erik Moses, CEO of the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission. “Our guests at RFK Stadium are valued customers and our principal objective is to provide them with the first-class service and superior quality they deserve. Sodexo has the experience and the ingenuity to achieve the high standards we share.”
Sodexo’s global experience in leisure services provides concession services to large and small venues around the world. The company serves more than ten million customers daily and has catered sporting events like the Rugby World Cup and Tour de France, as well as entertainment events in the Eiffel Tower, Museum of Science and Industry and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. In Major League Soccer, Sodexo manages concession services for Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
“This partnership with the DCSEC and D.C. United is important to us, not only because it’s in the backyard of Sodexo’s North American headquarters, it’s also an important alliance with the community we serve in the D.C.-area-we are committed to enhancing the RFK Stadium experience,” said Steve DiPrima, Division Vice President of Sodexo Leisure Services.
Sodexo’s service will focus on quality, speed of service and convenience at concession stands, premium seating areas, portable carts and at RFK’s stadium clubs, the Champions Club and VW Lounge will be tailored to provide an exceptional experience for each guest.
About DC Sports and Entertainment Commission
The DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, an independent agency of the District of Columbia Government, seeks to enrich the local community by attracting and hosting sports, entertainment and special events in Washington, D.C. while promoting the Nation’s Capital as a premier event destination. In addition, the mission of the organization is to support citywide community events and programs involving youth, amateur and professional sports. The DCSEC operates the Stadium-Armory campus which includes RFK Stadium, the DC Armory and the surrounding Festival Grounds and serves as the landlord of Nationals Park. For more information, please visit www.dcsec.com.
About Sodexo, Inc.
Sodexo, Inc. is a leading integrated food and facilities management service company in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $7.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. Sodexo, Inc. serves more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, governments and remote sites. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., is a member of Sodexo Group, and funds the Sodexo Foundation, an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $11 million in grants to fight hunger in America.
About D.C. United
Headquartered in Washington, DC and playing home matches at RFK Stadium, D.C. United is the most successful professional soccer organization in the history of the United States. United is four-time MLS Cup Champions (1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004) and winners of the 1996 and 2008 U.S. Open Cup, the 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup, the 1998 Interamerican Cup and the 1997, 1999, 2006 and 2007 MLS Supporters Shield. United is one of 15 teams comprising Major League Soccer, joining CD Chivas USA, the Chicago Fire, the Colorado Rapids, the Columbus Crew, FC Dallas, the Houston Dynamo, the Kansas City Wizards, the Los Angeles Galaxy, the New England Revolution, Red Bull New York, Real Salt Lake, the San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC and Toronto FC. The League’s 16th team, based in Philadelphia, will begin play in 2010. For the latest headlines and official information on the Black-and-Red, logon to dcunited.com.
Broadcasting and P.A. Request: When speaking of the organization, please refer to the team as either “D.C. United” or “United,” but not “the D.C. United” or “the United.” We appreciate your cooperation.
Doug Hicks,
dhicks@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5448,
Boris Flores,
bflores@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5452,
Kyle Sheldon,
ksheldon@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5450 or
Cristina Cruz,
ccruz@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5440
