Ravens tap Chicago-based Levy for concessions at M&T Bank Stadium

Levy, the Chicago-based hospitality company that manages concessions for Oriole Park at Camden Yards, will take on food and beverage sales for the Ravens, too.

The team said Thursday that it has chosen Levy as the exclusive concessionaire at M&T Bank Stadium. The partnership will start this year.

The Ravens announced earlier this month that they were parting ways with longtime concessions partner Aramark, which had been in charge of food and beverage at the football stadium since 2003. The decision came four seasons before Aramark’s concessions contract was set to expire, according to a spokesperson for the company.

The change was prompted by the Ravens’ recent lease extension and infusion of $430 million in state funds for upgrades to the stadium. The team is planning a major round of renovations that will include expanded concourses, new suites and three plazas with bars, restaurants and shops. The Ravens issued a request for proposals for a concessionaire last fall.

“Food and beverage and hospitality has become such a core part of our fans’ gameday experience,” Ravens president Sashi Brown said in a statement. “Throughout the planning of our stadium renovations, we pushed ourselves to evolve every aspect of the fan experience and were heavily focused on our F&B program.”

Levy, which also recently landed a concessions contract at the Baltimore Convention Center, already handles concessions at several nearby stadiums in addition to Camden Yards, such as Commanders Field (formerly FedEx Field) in Landover, Nationals Park and Audi Field in the Washington, D.C., and Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen.

Levy’s CEO, Andy Lansing, said the company will focus on “bringing wonderful flavors and hospitality to M&T Bank Stadium in a way that celebrates cherished traditions with new and improved modern amenities.”