Is there anything more American than eating a corn dog dipped in green dye No. 3? Or attending a Major League Baseball game? Today, those activities converge, as part of MLB’s official opening day for 2025.
And, from Yankee Stadium to T-Mobile Park in Seattle, fans will be presented with a veritable buffet of wild concession-stand entrees. It has become an American tradition, it seems, to offer increasingly crazy stadium food with each passing season.
“Food that’s buzzworthy, Instagrammable, and can be made in quantity with repeatable quality are typically the (new concessions) that get selected,” explained Andrea Abbondanza, the CEO of SEO for Restaurants.
“Fans attend the games not only to experience the action but to treat themselves to stadium fare. Offering satisfying food encourages more fans to watch in the stadium rather than at home,” Abbondanza told The Food Institute. “When fans share the food on social media, it’s free marketing.”
New at @Mariners games: The What Up Corn Dog.
A Mariners blue, honey-battered corn dog with a spicy crunch served with nacho cheese. pic.twitter.com/uz6V9A5Dlm
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 19, 2025
Innovative Menu Items
Let’s check out the lineup of unique ballpark food for 2025. …
At Truist Park in Atlanta, you’ll find the Cleanup Burger, featuring beef patties, hash browns, bacon and a fried egg, nestled between Belgian waffles, with maple syrup serving as the closer.
At Globe Life Field, Texas Rangers fans can feast upon gut-busting items like The Boomstick Burrito (featuring a 26-inch tortilla stuffed with rice, beans, taco meat, nacho cheese, and more), as well as Lobster Nachos.
In Philadelphia, Phillies fans can enjoy desserts like S’mores Quesadillas stuffed with Nutella, crumbled graham crackers, with a side of chocolate dipping sauce.
Even minor league (MiLB) teams have gotten accustomed to wild ballpark fare. Behold the St. Paul Saints’ giant, $130 hot dog, for example:
THE LAND OF 10,000 CALORIES
It’s a giant beef hot dog topped with smoked pulled pork, cheddar macaroni & cheese, jalapeños, & fried onion topping. $130, feeds 10-12 from The St. Paul Saints. https://t.co/c92L2Q7iQf pic.twitter.com/L0uDYlI8TO
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) March 25, 2025
Bringing a New Idea to the Plate
You might wonder how vendors like Delaware North and providers like Aramark come up with such wild menu items. The process is as elaborate as deciphering baseball analytics like WAR or Expected Earned Run Average.
First, vendors and suppliers brainstorm new menu items by studying local food trends and social media platforms like TikTok. Occasionally, pop-up events or limited-time promotions are used to gauge consumers’ reception of new concession items. Operational issues such as prep time and ingredient storage are key considerations, because stadium vendors need to feed thousands of people rather quickly.
“The stadium food landscape has been influenced by many innovative suppliers and vendors. Like Levy; their innovative options such as the Bear Claw beer cheese-dip pretzel and their jalapeno-cheddar hot dog demonstrate how they’re reinventing classic stadium fare with chef-inspired concepts,” Abbondanza said.
“When developing stadium fare, brands need to consider creating something jaw-dropping and satisfying,” she added.
The Food Institute Podcast
Tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and inflation are all weighing on the food and beverage industry and consumers alike, but what can industry leaders do to persevere amid uncertainty? Lou Biscotti from CBIZ’s Food and Beverages Services Group shares his insights on The Food Institute Podcast.
