New Dodger Menu--but Hot Dogs Stay

Citing an appetite for an “expanded menu selection” beyond the hot dog, Peter O’Malley, president of the Los Angeles Dodgers, announced Friday that the club will switch food concessionaires, ending 29 years with Arthur Food Services.

Marriott Corp.’s Sports & Entertainment Division will operate the stadium food concession beginning with the 1991 baseball season.

“This is something that has been in the works for a long, long time,” Tom Arthur, president of Arthur Food, said. “I guess it’s time to go on to something else.”

The Dodgers had been evaluating the concession contract since June, and had asked the Century City-based food company to expand its offering to stadium-goers, Arthur said.

“But I’ve always felt that the big items sold in a baseball park were hot dogs,” said Arthur, who introduced other foods in recent years without success.

“There’s such a drive on about nutrition and health, and people want chickens and fruit drinks,” he said. “We tried them all but we didn’t find that they were such a big deal.”

Arthur even tried sushi once in 1984, “but it didn’t go,” he said.

O’Malley announced that the change was part of a “complete renovation and modernization of all food facilities at the stadium. The Dodgers expect Marriott to retain the traditional Dodger Dog, which is supplied by Farmer John/Clougherty Packing Co. of Los Angeles. But Marriott will also to bring into the stadium such fast-food chains as Carl’s, McDonald’s and sandwich vendors, said Dodger spokesman Jay Lucas.

Professional sports concessions require heavy investment in cookers, venting and other equipment whenever menus are enlarged, Arthur said. “And that’s something we’re not prepared to do. We felt that what we had there was adequate,” he added. Arthur would not disclose financial information on the privately held concessionaire.

Marriott pledged to make Dodger Stadium its “flagship operation” in sports and entertainment food, according to Marriott Corp. spokesman Vince Pantuso.

Both the Dodgers and Arthur described the parting as amicable. “Nobody’s out there with sackcloth and ashes,” Arthur said. “We’re just going to try to make a smooth transition.”