Centerplate

What Centerplate does

Sodexo Live! is the global hospitality brand of Sodexo SA (Euronext Paris: SW), formed in 1962 by Pierre Bellon. The division manages food, beverage, and hospitality services at iconic venues worldwide — stadiums and arenas, convention centers, cultural destinations, airport lounges, ski resorts, and major events including the Olympics, Super Bowl, Tour de France, and F1. Centerplate, a legacy U.S. venue hospitality provider, was acquired by Sodexo and its operations integrated into the Sodexo Live! brand. The business operates 500 sites across the U.S., Canada, France, U.K., and Hong Kong, employing 40,000 "Experience Makers" and serving 30,000+ events annually plus 41 million airport lounge travelers.

Core technology includes mobile ordering and self-serve kiosks, contactless payment systems, digital menu boards, integrated venue apps, the proprietary Site Management System (SMS) with predictive analytics, and WasteWatch food waste tracking. Differentiated culinary programs feature Michelin-starred chefs and named celebrity partners (Suzanne Goin, Caroline Styne, Ethan Stowell, Marshall Faulk). Sub-brands include Bateaux Parisiens, Lenôtre, STH (sports travel hospitality), Batobus, Heritage Portfolio, and Yachts de Paris.

The business model is managed services: Sodexo Live! secures long-term, often exclusive, multi-year contracts directly with venue operators through enterprise field sales and RFP processes. Pricing is quote-based and venue-specific rather than publicly disclosed. Revenue streams encompass F&B operations, retail food service, VIP hospitality suites, event catering, and ticketing/hospitality packages. Named customers include the Las Vegas Convention Center, Orange County Convention Center, Seattle Mariners, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Dolphins), American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Atlantic, American Express, and the National Gallery of Art.

Name

Centerplate

Legal name

Sodexo SA

Website

https://sodexolive.us

Company type

Public

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Sodexo Live!, the hospitality division of Sodexo SA and successor to Centerplate, provides managed food, beverage, and hospitality services at stadiums, convention centers, cultural venues, airport lounges, and major events globally across 500 sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality and Food Services

NAICS

Food Service Contractors (722310), Caterers (72232), Special Food Services (7223)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Venue Food, Beverage & Hospitality Operations (Concessions, Catering, Premium Seating) (MPAGALAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conference & Convention Center Catering (THAHAKAB), Concession & Stadium / Arena Catering (THAFAIAG), Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA)

Keywords

• Venue hospitality services
• Food and beverage management
• Stadium catering
• Convention center catering
• Airport lounge services

Headquarters

HQ city

Issy-les-Moulineaux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Venue Management and Hospitality Services: Sodexo Live! generates revenue through long-term managed services contracts with venues, providing bespoke catering, sales, and event management services. Revenue comes from food and beverage operations, retail food service, VIP hospitality suites, and event catering across stadiums, convention centers, cultural destinations, airport lounges, and ski resorts.
2. Ticketing and Hospitality Packages: Through STH (Sports Travel Hospitality), the company provides hospitality, travel, and accommodation packages for VIP guests at top-tier sporting events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Centerplate, now operating as Sodexo Live!, provides managed food and beverage and hospitality services to venue operators under long-term exclusive contracts. Core offerings include culinary program design, custom menu development, concession and premium/VIP hospitality, retail food service, event catering, and event-day operations staffing for stadiums and arenas, convention centers, cultural destinations, airport lounges, ski resorts, and major events such as the Super Bowl, Olympics, Tour de France, and Formula 1.

Product overview

Sodexo Live! is a global hospitality company providing integrated food and beverage services across diverse venue types. The company operates a portfolio of branded sub-products including Bateaux Parisiens (Seine river cruises), Lenôtre (culinary arts school), STH (sports travel hospitality), Batobus (Parisian boat tours), Heritage Portfolio (UK venues), and Yachts de Paris. Core services span stadiums and arenas, convention centers, cultural destinations, airport lounges, ski resorts, and major events. The company combines culinary excellence with operational technology including mobile ordering, data analytics, and sustainability initiatives to deliver guest experiences at iconic venues worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bateaux Parisiens: Seine river boat tours offering dining experiences
• STH
• Lenôtre
• Batobus
• Heritage Portfolio
• Yachts de Paris

Products and services

• Stadiums and Arenas Food and Beverage End-to-end culinary and hospitality solutions for sports venues, including custom menus, celebrity chef partnerships, premium VIP hospitality suites, concession operations, mobile ordering, and self-serve kiosks.
• Convention Centers Catering Customized high-volume food and beverage services for corporate, association, and social events at convention and conference centers, including trend-forward menus and sustainability programs such as reusable wares.
• Cultural Destinations Hospitality Tailored culinary solutions for museums, concert halls, performing arts centers, zoos, and aquariums, including locally inspired menus, named-chef collaborations, and sustainable sourcing.
• Airport Lounges Services Premium food and beverage hospitality for airline and alliance lounges, including curated menus, live cooking stations, buffet dining, beverage programs, and predictive demand forecasting via the Site Management System (SMS).
• Ski Resorts Dining Food and beverage services for ski resorts, including grab-and-go, pop-ups, and fine dining options tailored to seasonal demand patterns.
• Major Events Catering Large-scale catering and hospitality for prestigious events including the Olympics, Super Bowl, Tour de France, French Open, Formula 1, and World Baseball Classic, using centralized kitchen prep and zone-based service models.
• Bateaux Parisiens Seine river cruise dining experience offering meals and entertainment aboard boats on the Seine in Paris.
• STH (Sports Travel Hospitality) Hospitality, travel, and accommodation packages for VIP guests at top-tier sporting events.
• Lenôtre Culinary arts school and pastry brand based in Paris offering professional culinary training programs, including the Laurence Rua Memorial Scholarship recipient training.
• Batobus Hop-on hop-off boat service along the Seine in Paris visiting major tourist attractions.
• Heritage Portfolio Portfolio of heritage venues and hospitality services in the United Kingdom.
• Yachts de Paris Private yacht charter services for events and dining experiences on the Seine in Paris.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19 consecutive years on Dow Jones Sustainability World Index
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Seattle MarinersflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Long-term hospitality partnership at T-Mobile Park dating back to 1997, recently extended with new multi-year agreement. Sodexo Live! provides comprehensive food and beverage services for the MLB stadium.
• Mizzou Athletics / University of MissouricoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026New hospitality partner for Memorial Stadium, Mizzou Arena and all Mizzou Athletics venues, working with Upper Crust Food Service for local expertise.
• Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Exclusive hospitality partnership renewed for Las Vegas Convention Center, the 4.6 million-square-foot facility serving over 1 million attendees annually. Partnership began in 2017.
• Chef Ethan StowellcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026Culinary Consultant partnership with award-winning Seattle chef to shape and elevate Benaroya Hall's hospitality program, including menu development and seasonal offerings.
• The Music Center (Los Angeles)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 2025Multi-year hospitality partnership managing food and beverage across four venues: Walt Disney Concert Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre, and Mark Taper Forum. Includes catering by Chef Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne.
• Vancouver Convention CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive food and beverage provider at the Vancouver Convention Centre, launching Friendlier reusable wares program.
• Orange County Convention CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing food and beverage partnership at the OCCC in Orlando, one of the top convention centers in North America with 7 million square feet.
• STH (Sports Travel Hospitality)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTH provides hospitality, travel, and accommodation packages for VIP guests at top-tier sporting events. Sodexo Live! partners with STH for ticketing and hospitality services.
• JTB CorpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with JTB Corp, Japan's leading travel solutions provider, for World Baseball Classic Experiences hospitality packages.
• Tour de FranceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud partners of Le Tour de France for more than 30 years, providing hospitality services at one of cycling's most prestigious events.
• Benaroya Hall / Seattle SymphonycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCulinary collaboration bringing restaurant-quality dining and enhanced hospitality to Benaroya Hall.
• Chef Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne (The Lucques Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJames Beard award-winning Chef and Restaurateur leading catering services and Founders' Rooms at The Music Center venues under Hope & Grand Events by Lucques brand.
• American AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirport lounge management partnership providing premium food and beverage services at American Airlines lounges globally.
• Cathay PacificcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium airport lounge hospitality services for Cathay Pacific travelers.
• Virgin AtlanticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirport lounge management services for Virgin Atlantic passengers.
• American ExpresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for American Express lounges, including the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX which won Best Alliance Lounge 2023.
• Air New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Star Alliance Lounge at LAX that was named Best Alliance Lounge 2023.
• National WWII MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural destination partnership in New Orleans, delivering 7% revenue increase in one year.
• National Gallery of Art (Washington D.C.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural destination partnership at the National Gallery of Art with award-winning culinary programs.
• Hollywood BowlflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles with acclaimed food and wine program by Chef Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne.
• Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural destination partnership at MSI with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and exceptional dining experiences.
• Mote Science Education (SEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing exceptional coffee and connecting mission-driven partners with purpose-driven venues.
• Bristol Mountain, Bromley, Jiminy Peak, Whiteface, Mount St Louis MoonstonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSki resort partnerships across North America providing food and beverage services at exceptional ski destinations.
• Lobster Ink / Culinary Institute of America / EcolabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProChef certification program partnership providing culinary training and career development for Sodexo Live! team members.
• Marshall FaulkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFL Hall of Famer serving as Chief Flavor Officer to infuse local New Orleans flavors into Caesars Superdome food and beverage experience.
• La Nena Cantina (Vicente Del Rio / Hospitality 70 Group)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestaurant partnership bringing modern Mexican dining to Walt Disney Concert Hall at The Music Center.
• Upper Crust Food ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColumbia-based partner bringing local expertise and deep community ties to complement Sodexo Live!'s global scale for Mizzou Athletics hospitality.
• Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience (LMHE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner15-year hospitality partnership for LMHE's full food and beverage program, emphasizing locally inspired menus and scalable service models.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Oak View Group: Venue development and hospitality management firm operating arena F&B programs; emerging direct competitor to Sodexo Live! in the stadiums and arenas vertical, particularly for new-build venues.

Direct peers

• Plaza Premium Group: Independent global airport lounge operator providing F&B and hospitality services; directly comparable in the airport lounge segment where Sodexo Live! serves 170+ lounges.
• Delaware North: Privately held hospitality and food service company operating at sports venues, airports, national parks, and entertainment destinations; closely comparable venue-concession and managed-services model.
• Levy Restaurants (Compass Group): Specialist division of Compass Group providing premium hospitality at sports and entertainment venues; competes head-to-head for stadium and arena F&B contracts and chef-driven premium hospitality.
• Legends Hospitality: Hospitality partner to professional sports franchises (Yankee Stadium, SoFi Stadium, Tottenham) for premium F&B, merchandise, and venue services; directly competes in stadium arena segment.
• Restaurant Associates (Compass Group): Specialty contract caterer for cultural institutions, museums, corporate dining, and special events; overlaps with Sodexo Live!'s cultural destinations and convention/event catering verticals.
• Aramark: Direct competitor across stadium, arena, convention center, and major-event food and beverage concessions in North America; closest comparable in venue hospitality scale and contract-driven managed services.

Broad incumbents

• Hilton Worldwide (airport lounge / hospitality): Operates airport lounge-style hospitality adjacent to Sodexo Live!'s airport lounge vertical and offers broader lodging/hospitality; comparable in venue-side guest experience execution.
• Compass Group / Eurest: Largest contract caterer globally; overlaps with Sodexo Live! across sports, leisure, and workplace catering; broader portfolio but competes for the same venue RFPs through its Levy and Eurest brands.

Others

• Centerplate: Historically a leading North American venue hospitality provider (convention centers, stadiums); was acquired by Sodexo and its operations integrated into Sodexo Live!, making it a legacy/former-direct peer rather than a current competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sodexolive
• Instagraminstagram.com/sodexolive

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centerplate