Centerplate

Centerplate, Inc.

Company type	Private
Industry	Restaurants
Headquarters	Stamford, CT , USA
Key people	Des Hague
Number of employees	30,000
Website	www.centerplate.com

Centerplate, Inc. is a food and beverage corporation serving entertainment venues in North America, and the UK.

Centerplate was formerly known as Volume Services America, Inc., and was originally a division of The Flagstar Companies. In 1995, Flagstar, which was controlled by private equity firm, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), sold Volume Services to The Blackstone Group. Volume Services changed its name to Centerplate in 2004, when the company completed an IPO. In 2009, Centerplate again became a private company following its merger with an affiliate of Kohlberg & Company. In 2012, Centerplate was acquired by a consortium of investors including members of the current management team as well as private equity firm Olympus Partners, who continue to own the Company.

Animal abuse

On August 21, 2014, it was reported that the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BCSPCA) was investigating after receiving a surveillance video shot in an elevator of the Private Residences at Hotel Georgia in downtown Vancouver, Canada showing Desmond Hague, CEO of Centerplate, Inc., kicking his puppy repeatedly and yanking it violently on its leash. The search warrant issued as the result of the BCSPCA investigation identifies the man as Des Hague, CEO of Centerplate,Inc. On August 23, 2014 it was reported Hague issued an apology through his legal counsel, stating in part "I take full responsibility for my actions, [...] and I am ashamed and deeply embarrassed." Desmond Hague initially stated that the puppy was a "friend's pet" but the honesty of that statement has subsequently been called into question. The BCSPCA has stated that the puppy Hague was abusing in fact belonged to him, and not a friend. The board of directors at Centerplate has not issued a statement expressing a position on the contradiction between Mr. Hague's statement and that of the BCSPCA. Sadie the abused doberman puppy has been removed from her home by officers of BCSPCA, who while investigating the abuse, were appalled by the puppy's living conditions in Hague's home.

A petition on Change.org requesting that Des Hague be fired, had reached over 140,000 signatures as of August 30 2014. The number of signatures on the Change.org petition is now greater than the regular seating capacity of any one of the 31 full-time NFL stadiums.

Venue Partners

Centerplate provides services to over 300 venues in the United States and United Kingdom, including arenas, cinemas, convention centers, resorts, restaurants, zoos and aquariums. As a result of the animal abuse scandal involving Centerplate CEO Desmond Hague, many have called for a boycott of the various venues utilizing Centerplate concessions. A partial list of Centerplate's current venue partners or clients include:

U.S. and Canada

Acqueduct Race Track, Alliant Energy Center, Aloha Stadium, American Institute of Architects National Convention, Baltimore Convention Center, BB&T Center, Belleayre Ski Center, Belmont Park, BMO Harris Bank Center, Brown & Williamson Club, Cobo Center, Colonial Life Arena, Colorado Convention Center, Comcast Arena at Everett, Crown Complex North Carolina, Dallas Convention Center, DC Convention Center, Denver Broncos, Denver Performing Arts Complex, Durham Bulls Stadium, Ernest N Morial Convention Center, Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center, Harry’s Smokehouse, Indiana Convention Center, Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis Convention Center, Indianapolis Zoo, Javits Center, JELD-WEN Field, Jiminy Peak, John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House, Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Exposition Center, Kentucky International Convention Center, KFC Yum! Center, Levi’s Stadium, Log Angeles Zoo, Louisiana Superdome, LP Field, Lucas Oil Stadium, McAllen Convention Center, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami International Boat Show, National WWII Museum New Orleans, NCAA Hall of Champions and Conference Center, New England Aquarium, New Orleans Arena, Ocean City Convention Center, Orange County Convention Center, Pacific Aviation Museum, Pasadena Convention Center, PavCo, Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, Peoria Civic Center, Portland Timbers, Providence Park, Qualcomm Stadium, Raleigh Convention Center, Roger Williams Park Zoo, Roland E Powell Convention Center, Ryan Center, San Diego Convention Center, Saratoga Race Course, Seattle’s Safeco Field, Sioux City Convention Center, Smoothie King Center, Sophie’s at Saks Fifth Avenue, Spokane Arena, Spokane Convention Center, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Sun Life Stadium, SunLife Stadium in Miami, Tacoma Dome, The Cow Palace, The Fillmore Auditorium, The Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field, University of Colorado Folsom Field, University of Louisville, University of Notre Dame, Vancouver Convention Centre, Walter E Washington Convention Center, Warner Bros. Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter, Webster Bank Arena, Whiteface Mountain, White Hart Lane, Tottenham Hotspur, World Arena Pikes Peak Center, Yakima Convention Center.

U.K.

Aston Gate Stadium Bristol, Hillsborough Stadium, Keepmoat Stadium, New York Stadium, Prestfield Conference and Banqueting, RAF Museum London, Swindon County Ground Conference and Events Center, The Bristol Pavillion, The Halliwell Jones Stadium, The Spitfire Grand St. Lawrence, Twycross Zoo World Primate Centre, Vicarage Road Conference and Events Center, White Hart Lane.

External links

• Official site