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Brewery Bars in Stadiums: Ready for the Big Leagues?

From the NBA to the NHL to minor league baseball, sports venues are looking for local beer brands to join the widening variety of local food. Here’s a look at the costs and opportunities for small breweries considering whether to jump into the arena.

Industry All Access
Wiseacre’s bar inside FedExForum, home of the Memphis Grizzlies. Photo: Courtesy Wiseacre Brewing.
Wiseacre’s bar inside FedExForum, home of the Memphis Grizzlies. Photo: Courtesy Wiseacre Brewing.

Gone are the days when “stadium food” was automatically a pejorative term, and when “stadium beer” just meant overpriced Bud Light. As arenas and ballparks seek to distinguish their menus by offering more local vendors—and as craft breweries get large enough to accommodate these requests—locally made beer has established a toehold in sports venues, from minor league baseball to pro hockey.

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