A Taste of Detroit at Little Caesars Arena

When fans attend an event at Little Caesars Arena, dining options run the gamut from arena classics and Little Caesars pizza, to fare that is distinctly Detroit.

The Mixing Board, with made-from-scratch menu items that showcase the best ingredients and flavors of the Motor City, recently celebrated Hockeytown Opening Week with new menu items, including a beef birria taco made with corn shells from Detroit’s La Michoacana Tortilleria, and homemade short rib ravioli with roasted mushroom, pickled blackberries, arugula and pecorino Romano tossed in a cacio e pepe sauce.

Little Caesars Arena also houses two UWM District Market locations which offer a sampling of Detroit’s diverse flavors. UWM District Market (Via Concourse) began the hockey season with candy apples and cider floats, while UWM District Market (Upper Concourse) has added a chicken shawarma pita and a lamb and beef gyro to its offerings. The Grill Stand (PORTAL 12) is honoring Detroit’s Polish influence with mini paczkis and pierogi nachos.

It’s all part of the innovative approach by Ilitch Sports +Entertainment and venue concession partner Delaware North to connect with the city of Detroit through partnerships with small restaurant businesses and local favorites. For the last two years, Little Caesars Arena and Comerica Park have welcomed Detroit-based, minority-owned businesses to share their celebrated Detroit-style fare. Local restauranteurs have included Baobab Fare, Breadless, Shell Shock’d, Yum Village, Bert’s Marketplace, and The Lobster Food Truck, among others.

Local restaurant pop-ups first became part of the gameday experience at Little Caesars Arena during the 2022-23 Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons seasons. The initiative, aimed at increasing economic inclusion for Detroiters, proved popular with fans and with the restaurant owners.

This season, Little Caesars Arena will feature EggRollDiva (now through Nov. 15), Fried Chicken and Caviar (Nov. 18 through Dec. 20), Curt Got Crabs (Dec. 23 through Jan. 18), Breadless (Jan. 23-Mar. 1), and Cooking with Que (Mar. 4-Apr. 14), among other local restauranteurs.

"At Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, we believe that bringing the flavors of Detroit into Little Caesars Arena is essential to delivering an unforgettable experience for our fans,” said Amanda Vought, Vice President, Guest Strategy, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “Partnering with local businesses not only celebrates the rich culinary heritage of our city but also creates meaningful opportunities for small, Detroit-based entrepreneurs to shine on a larger stage. It’s about sharing the stories behind these amazing dishes and making every visit to the arena a true taste of what makes Detroit special."

Other new concessions and menu items available at Little Caesars Arena include:

·      Spicy Asian Chicken Sandwich at The Coop

·      Hand-Pressed Gelato Sandwich, available at all Gelato Carts

·      Double Hand-Pressed Burger at 313 Grills

·      Cali Tri Tip Sandwich, Jefferson BLT, Motor City Ham Sandwich, Turkey Trot and Brie and The 2645 Pastrami, all available at the 1701Pub

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