Chinese table tennis players Chen Meng and Sun Yingsha faced off in the final match of the women’s singles event at the Paris Olympics. Chen won 4-2, taking home the gold medal. Although the two are compatriots, Chinese spectators overwhelmingly cheered for Sun during the match, with some even jeering Chen, prompting a foreign journalist to ask why this was the case at a post-match news conference. This article, first published in Beijing Youth Daily, goes some way to answer that question.

Hot dogs, peanuts and Cracker Jacks were about all that sports fans could enjoy at a ballgame back in the day. But how things have changed.

Now, it's a matter of decisions, decisions ... Do I want a cheesesteak? No, maybe a platter of nachos and a cold craft brew? The choices are mouthwatering and scoring big with hungry fans, making the game more than just about the ball on the field.

"Appealing to a multitude of food preferences makes for a top-notch fan experience," says Amanda Nelson Varnell, a dedicated fan of the Chattanooga Lookouts. "When you attend several games in a season, it's nice to have variety."

Scott Burton, food and beverage manager for the Lookouts, is in his second year in charge of food service at AT&T Field, home to Chattanooga's minor-league baseball team.

In his first year, improvements were made to the concession area, rearranging the layout and adding a cart where ice cream is scooped by hand, a huge treat on a hot summer evening.

"The lack of space at AT&T Field has kept our menu from getting too creative," he says. But that should change when the new stadium is completed sometime in 2026."

Other stadiums around the country have taken massive steps [in upgrading menus] since I started in the industry," Burton adds.

For example, Finley Stadium, home of the Chattanooga Football Club, the UTC Mocs football team and UTC's women's soccer team, introduced a new food program a few seasons ago that fans now cheer.Local fans Patti and Jim Frierson began attending CFC games in 2009 and found concessions at Finley were lacking until they brought in food trucks.

"Each year, though, things have gotten better," Patti Frierson says. "They began bringing in restaurants, like Uncle Larry's and Sticky Fingers. Now they brand each booth differently and have different offerings."

She says the barbecue booth is good, and they also have draft beer at all stations.

The stadium has six booths with different themes, ranging from Reggie's BBQ & Nachos and The Max Grilleworks (hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, etc.) to the newest booth, Kick It Up, which features Tex-Mex dishes.

"There's been a significant change in food options," says stadium food and beverage manager Crystal Lee. "This has allowed us to increase our per-cap sales, but most importantly, (to improve) the guest experience."

And to make everything run smoothly so folks can get back to the game quickly, Finley has added new point-of-sale terminals to speed up transactions.

Before the Chattanooga Red Wolves kick off their games at CHI Memorial Stadium, the lines are long at the eight bars serving creative cocktails and offering special-price nights, such as $2 beer nights. There's also Food Truck Alley, where soccer fans can score big tastes from a rotating set of trucks, such as El Taco Boss, Windy City Eatz, Flame and Flavor and Broken Heart Cheesecakes.

"By offering a wide variety and price points for our food and beverage options, we provide our fans with an exciting and positive overall experience," says Caroline McWhorter, director of CHI Memorial Stadium.

Original article published 13.08.2024 on the TimesFreePress.com website.

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