Marvel Stadium delivers hospitality upgrades ahead of 2020 AFL season

Marvel Stadium has announced a bold overhaul of its food and beverage offering, in collaboration with catering partner Delaware North, to give fans access to a new restaurant, Lee Ho Fook, and new retail offerings including Crafter Glow, Gami Chicken, and plant-based burger offering, Dirty Beets, which hails from the UK, confirmed as new dining options.

Marvel Stadium states that this hospitality overhaul delivers “never-before-seen access to world-class culinary options in the context of a multi-purpose stadium” with Marvel Stadium Chief Executive Michael Green advising that the new culinary offerings are the latest way that the stadium is enhancing game-day experience for fans and culinary options for the Docklands.

Green notes “we’ve made significant additions to the stadium in the last twelve months, including the sensory room, the Marvel height chart and the Spider-Man climbing wall – the revitalisation of the stadium’s dining experience is our latest initiative and we’re really proud of it."

The Stadium has also confirmed a price freeze on traditional stadium food options, with pies, chips, hot dogs, coffee, water, kids’ combos and more all retaining their prices from 2019, meaning the stadium has not increased the prices of any of these items in four years.

Green added “we’ll always offer the tried and true gameday experience of sitting in your seat with a trusty pie and the kids combo, and the price freeze on fan favourites highlights our commitment to this, but now we’re expanding the stadium’s food options to cater to a broader section of the market.”

Driven by its desire to challenge the status quo of the stadium experience, Marvel Stadium’s enhanced dining options will extend beyond match days, with Lee Ho Fook open to the public for lunch on Thursdays and Fridays as well as during events for fans and Medallion Club members.

Gami, a Korean chicken and beer favourite that has been tempting Melburnians since its launch in 2006, will provide a trademark twist to classic chicken and chips with its delicious fried chicken pieces, flavoursome grilled options and traditional Korean dishes.

Bolstered by the perpetual rise of plant-based diets, UK-based eatery Dirty Beets will be making the trip from Wembley Arena to Marvel Stadium, with the entirely vegetarian menu catering to carnivores and vegans alike with irresistible plant-based burgers.

Younger fans will enjoy The Sweeter Life - a lolly shop boasting colourful roof-high plastic tubes loaded with sweet treats, self-serve slushie machines and an array of ice cream flavours.

In addition, a new craft beer bar, Crafter Glow on level 1, Four Pines bar on level 3 and a deluxe, made to order burger bar, Prime Burger will also open, taking the total number of new food and beverage outlets to 13.

Marvel Stadium’s new dining options will bolster its reputation as a local attraction, part of its transformation from sporting venue into a bona fide must-see for tourists.

Green enthused “Lee Ho Fook is going to be a great addition to the Docklands, since it will be open on Thursday and Friday, allowing punters to get a look at the stadium on a non-event day, which is an experience in itself.

“The stadium has become an all-round entertainment experience now – there’s so much for families to do before and after games, and the new dining options will be part of that.”

The suite of new offerings is currently under construction and will be open to the general public in time for Round 1 of the AFL.

ABOUT THE NEW OFFERINGS

Lee Ho Fook

• One of Melbourne’s Good Food Guide “hatted” restaurants

• New-wave Chinese cuisine from the mind of Victor Liong

• Menu and drinks list will be heavily influenced by the venue’s home location in Duckboard Place

• Casual and elegant setting, allowing guests to enjoy the event or watch the chefs prepare their meals in front of them

Gami Chicken

• An evolution of Marvel Stadium’s Chicken Republic. Builds on Melbourne’s love of Korean fried chicken

• Fusion menu favourites including boneless chicken pieces, kimchi fries and beef bulgogi bowls

The Sweeter Life

• Delivers a sense of wonderment and awe to children and adults alike, with the colourful store adorned with lollies, popcorn and slushie machines

• Self-serve stations promote a sense of adventure among customers of all ages, with children filling up their cups to a level to be determined by their parents, and adults being treated to nostalgic sweets and flavours that take them back to yesteryear

Dirty Beets

• Saving the world 'one deliciously different burger at a time'

• Embraces a philosophy of 'love and let live'

• Entirely plant-based menu consisting of crowd favourites such as burgers, sweet potato fries and buns baked with a trademark hint of beetroot

Crafter Glow

• The best of Victoria’s craft beer right here in Marvel Stadium

• Focusing on the ‘independent’ craft beer range offered within the CUB portfolio, allying with other local wine, spirit,  and produce companies to bring the best of Victoria’s craft scene to Marvel Stadium

• Crafter Glow will be able to highlight the ever-changing craft food and beverage trends of Melbourne and Victoria by evolving its menu, suppliers and venue partners to match

• Level 1 (replacing The Snag Bar)

Images: New-wave Chinese cuisine from the mind of Victor Liong at Lee Ho Fook (top) and fans enjoying Gami Chicken (below). Images courtesy of Marvel Stadium