Centerplate wins contract at new Louisville ArenaCenterplate wins contract at new Louisville Arena

STAMFORD Conn. Centerplate Inc., a sports and entertainment concessions specialist, has won a contract to provide foodservice management at the new Louisville Arena in Louisville, Ky., when it opens in 2010.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The arena, which has a price tag of $252 million, will serve as the home of the University of Louisville’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. In addition, around 100 other events are expected to be held there on an annual basis, a Centerplate spokeswoman said.

The venue will have the capacity for 22,000 fans, and feature 72 luxury suites, a sports bar and restaurant, four premium seat lounges and four alumni rooms.

Foodservice brands to be featured at the arena are expected to include Centerplate’s proprietary brands as well as “some sponsor-driven partnerships at some point down the road,” the spokeswoman said. Menus will be tailored to accommodate local tastes, she added.

Centerplate, based here, provides foodservice management to 130 sports, entertainment and convention centers throughout North America.