MCG appoints Delaware North as Hospitality Services Provider

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has announced the appointment of global hospitality and entertainment company Delaware North as its hospitality services provider.

With significant operations in Australia for more than 30 years, Delaware North’s seven-year contract with stadium operator Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) is set to begin in April 2022.

It will see Delaware North manage the hospitality services at the MCG across event days, non-event days and for all corporate suites and functions.

This appointment, combined with Delaware North’s longstanding partnerships with Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium and Melbourne & Olympic Parks, home of the Australian Open Tennis Championships, increases the company’s status as a leader within the Australian stadia hospitality industry.

Gary Brown, Managing Director of Delaware North in Australia, New Zealand and Asia, advised “we’re thrilled to have been appointed as the new hospitality services provider at the MCG. The MCG is steeped in a rich history and is one of the most iconic stadiums in the world. It’s truly an honour for Delaware North to serve as the stadium’s hospitality partner.

“Delaware North anticipates the new partnership with the MCG will broaden and deepen its pool of talent in Melbourne, affording team members more career opportunities across multiple venues while … also seeking to retain current MCG hospitality team members.”

Noting that said Delaware North won the tender selection process by demonstrating an unrivalled proposal to provide exceptional customer service to members and fans, MCC Chief Executive, Stuart Fox added “we’re pleased to welcome Delaware North to the MCG family, their vision for the fan’s experience mirrored our strategic vision and we look forward to bringing that to life over the next seven years.”

In addition to its Australian stadia operations, Delaware North operates hospitality at more than 50 major sports and entertainment venues in the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand and Asia, including London’s Wembley Stadium, MetLife Stadium near New York City, Busch Stadium in St. Louis and 10 other Major League Baseball ballparks, Wellington’s Sky Stadium, the Singapore Sports Hub and Boston’s TD Garden, which the company also owns and operates.

Delaware North plans to create a mix of locally recognised brands that encompass a best-of-Melbourne approach to complement fan favourites and enhance the guest and member experience. Additionally, the company will bring new service styles and customer-facing technologies to the MCG that have proven highly successful in speeding food and beverage service at sports venues in the United States.

Explaining this, Brown added “we have global experience in providing stadium hospitality with operations across four continents. It is this expertise that Delaware North will bring to the MCG, ensuring that we deliver a world-class service to members, fans and visitors in the coming years.”

The company’s other operations in Australia and New Zealand include the luxurious Lizard Island Resort on the Great Barrier Reef, Mindil Beach Casino Resort in Darwin, and restaurants at Melbourne Airport, Adelaide Airport, Perth Airport and Sydney Central Station.

Image of the MCG courtesy of Delaware North.