The Rink at Rockefeller Center
Delaware North is a privately-held hospitality company founded in 1915 that operates food and beverage, retail, lodging, and entertainment services at 200+ venues — including sports stadiums, national parks, airports, and casinos — across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1915
- HeadquartersBuffalo, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Rink at Rockefeller Center does
Delaware North Companies, Inc. is a privately-held, family-owned hospitality company founded in 1915 by the Jacobs brothers and headquartered at 250 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, New York. The company provides outsourced hospitality services — food and beverage concessions, retail, lodging, gaming, and entertainment operations — to venue owners and operators under multi-year service contracts. It operates across four divisions (Sportservice, Parks & Resorts, Travel, Gaming) plus corporate functions, with a majority-owned Patina Restaurant Group (acquired 2014) and Boston Holdings that owns the Boston Bruins. Verticals served include major sports stadiums and arenas (10 MLB ballparks, Wembley Stadium, Emirates Stadium, MCG, Marvel Stadium, TD Garden, Truist Park), national parks (Yellowstone, Grand Canyon), airports in Australia and New Zealand, and regional casinos.
The company's underlying operating platform combines standardized hospitality workflows across 200+ venues on three continents, served by 40,000+ team members and delivering food, beverage, and retail experiences to 500M+ guests annually. Its proprietary GreenPath sustainability program (in operation since 1999) structures environmental practices across sourcing, waste, and venue design. Notable capabilities include multi-day event staffing (1,000-1,500 team members per event at Marvel Stadium), remote-location employee housing for national park operations, and chef-driven culinary partnerships with Michelin-starred chefs Andrew Wong and Carlos Gaytan to elevate stadium F&B offerings.
The business model is B2B service contracting: revenue is generated through long-term service agreements with venue owners and direct guest spending at operated locations. The firm does not publicly disclose pricing or unit economics. The customer base is concentrated in large enterprise counterparties (sports franchises, government entities managing national parks, stadium operators, and casino owners) across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. The Jacobs family retains controlling ownership, and no private equity, venture capital, or public ownership is indicated in available data.
The Rink at Rockefeller Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Rink at Rockefeller Center
- Legal name
- Delaware North Companies, Inc.
- Website
- https://therinkatrockcenter.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1915
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Delaware North is a privately-held hospitality company founded in 1915 that operates food and beverage, retail, lodging, and entertainment services at 200+ venues — including sports stadiums, national parks, airports, and casinos — across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Rink at Rockefeller Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ice Skating Rink
- NAICS
- Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Spectator Sports (7112)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ice Rinks & Winter Sports Facilities (MPAKAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Concession & Stadium / Arena Catering (THAFAIAG), Venue & Facility Reservations (Private Rooms, Event Spaces) (HSACALAJ)
Keywords
Where The Rink at Rockefeller Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buffalo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
The Rink at Rockefeller Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hospitality Services: Delaware North provides hospitality services including food & beverage concessions, retail, lodging, and entertainment operations at sports venues, national parks, airports, casinos, and resorts. Revenue is generated through service contracts with venue owners and direct guest spending.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Rink at Rockefeller Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Rink at Rockefeller Center operates a public ice skating rink in New York City, selling admission to skating sessions, skate rentals, group/lesson programming, and private or corporate event bookings on the ice. The venue is operated by Delaware North, a privately held hospitality company, and serves individual visitors and groups at the Rockefeller Center location.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Public Ice Skating Sessions Ticketed public ice skating sessions open to individual visitors and families at the Rockefeller Center rink in New York City, including access to on-site skate rental.
- Group and Private Event Bookings Reserved on-ice sessions for corporate, tourism, and group bookings, with event execution supported by the parent hospitality operator.
- Skate Rentals and On-Site Retail Per-visit skate rental and ancillary on-site retail purchases for guests attending skating sessions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 72% recycling rate during major events at Wembley Stadium
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Rink at Rockefeller Center
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Rink at Rockefeller Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Rink at Rockefeller Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Andrew Wong (Two-Michelin-starred Chef)flagshipCollaboration with two-Michelin-starred Chef Andrew Wong to develop elevated menus for Wembley Stadium's Inner Circle membership area, bringing high-end culinary concepts to stadium hospitality. The partnership reimagines accessible stadium food with high-quality offerings.
- Carlos Gaytan (Michelin-starred Chef)coreCollaboration with Michelin-starred chef Carlos Gaytan to create Tacos Mejor, a chef-driven concept debuting at Truist Park (Atlanta Braves stadium).
- Marvel Stadiumflagship25+ year partnership managing hospitality operations at Marvel Stadium, one of Melbourne's premier venues for sport and entertainment with capacity of 53,000+. Operations include food and beverage, retail, and corporate hospitality.
- Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)flagshipKey hospitality partner at the MCG, Australia's largest stadium with capacity of ~100,000, delivering food and beverage experiences across corporate suites, dining rooms, and public areas for AFL Grand Finals, international cricket, and major concerts.
- 10 Major League Baseball TeamsflagshipSportservice division operates food, beverage, and retail at 10 MLB stadiums including Comerica Park (Tigers), American Family Field (Brewers), Rate Field (White Sox), Petco Park (Padres), Great American Ball Park (Reds), Busch Stadium (Cardinals), Truist Park (Braves), Target Field (Twins), Globe Life Field (Rangers), and Progressive Field (Guardians).
- Wembley StadiumflagshipStadium hospitality and catering operations including Emirates FA Cup Final, major concerts, and premium dining experiences at one of the UK's most iconic venues.
- Emirates StadiumcoreHospitality operations at Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal FC, operating since 2006 alongside Wembley Stadium presence.
- Wheen Bee FoundationminorCharitable partnership at Marvel Stadium supporting Australian pollinator protection and ecosystem awareness through themed cocktail initiative.
- InvertiGro and Simon George & SonsminorSustainability partnership at Mindil Beach Casino Resort launching vertical wall farming system to support sustainable food and beverage sourcing.
- Yellowstone National ParkflagshipParks and Resorts division operates 11 general stores, lodging facilities, and food service throughout Yellowstone National Park including Yellowstone General Stores, West Yellowstone hotels, and The Ridgeline Hotel in Gardiner.
- Grand Canyon National ParkflagshipOperations include Yavapai Lodge with 358 guest rooms, retail stores, food and beverage at Desert View and Canyon Village, and the Squire Resort in Tusayan near the South Rim.
- Australian and New Zealand AirportscoreTravel division operates airport hospitality services at airports throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Rink at Rockefeller Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Legends Hospitality: Legends Hospitality provides hospitality, merchandise, and venue services to major sports and entertainment properties (Yankee Stadium, SoFi Stadium, AT&T Stadium). It competes for the same suite of premium venue hospitality contracts that underpin the parent platform's sports-services business.
- Wollman Rink (in Central Park): Wollman Rink is New York City's other flagship outdoor ice rink in Central Park, operating as a seasonal tourist ice-skating venue. It is the most direct comparably-scaled rink competitor in the same city, competing for tourist skating dollars and corporate holiday events.
- Compass Group / Levy Restaurants: Levy Restaurants, a subsidiary of Compass Group, is a leading sports and entertainment hospitality provider operating premium dining at venues including NBA/NFL arenas, Wrigley Field, and Churchill Downs. Its premium-venue F&B positioning mirrors the parent platform's chef-driven stadium hospitality strategy.
- Aramark: Aramark is the largest direct competitor to the parent hospitality platform that operates this rink, providing food & beverage, concessions, and hospitality services across sports stadiums, arenas, convention centers, and major venues globally. The competitive overlap on premium venue hospitality makes it the closest comparable operator.
- Sodexo Live! (formerly Centerplate): Sodexo Live! specializes in hospitality, concessions, and catering at sports venues, convention centers, and entertainment destinations. It directly competes with the parent platform for premium venue contracts at stadiums and arenas in the US and Europe.
Broad incumbents
- Smyth + The Loyalist (Patina Group concepts): Patina Restaurant Group is a subsidiary of the parent platform, providing fine-dining and premium hospitality operations in New York City (Rockefeller Center, Barclays Center). As an in-house premium-dining arm, it shares culinary talent and supplier relationships relevant to upscale rink hospitality packages.
- MSG Entertainment (Madison Square Garden): MSG operates premier New York sports and entertainment venues (Madison Square Garden, Radio City, The Theater at MSG). While a venue owner rather than a hospitality operator, it competes for the same premium NYC entertainment and corporate holiday-event spend.
Regional players
- The Rink at Bryant Park: Bryant Park's winter ice rink is another iconic NYC outdoor seasonal skating venue. While operated by a different management entity, it competes directly for the same New York holiday tourist and corporate-event skating market.
Emerging players
- TAO Group Hospitality: TAO Group operates premium hospitality, restaurant, and event venues in major US cities. While not an ice-rink operator, it competes for premium NYC group-event and corporate hospitality budgets during the same holiday season window.
- Oak View Group: Oak View Group is a fast-growing venue development and hospitality operator behind new arena projects (e.g., Climate Pledge Arena, UBS Arena) and venue services. It overlaps with the parent platform's arena hospitality offerings and represents an emerging competitor for premium venue contracts.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Rink at Rockefeller Center social profiles
Digital presenceThe Rink at Rockefeller Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Rink at Rockefeller Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Rink at Rockefeller Center subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
The Rink at Rockefeller Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Rink at Rockefeller Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Rink at Rockefeller Center
What does The Rink at Rockefeller Center do?
The Rink at Rockefeller Center operates a public ice skating rink in New York City, selling admission to skating sessions, skate rentals, group/lesson programming, and private or corporate event bookings on the ice. The venue is operated by Delaware North, a privately held hospitality company, and serves individual visitors and groups at the Rockefeller Center location.
Is The Rink at Rockefeller Center a public or private company?
The Rink at Rockefeller Center is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Rink at Rockefeller Center founded?
The Rink at Rockefeller Center was founded in 1915. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Rink at Rockefeller Center based?
The Rink at Rockefeller Center is headquartered in Buffalo, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Rink at Rockefeller Center make money?
One revenue line is on record: hospitality Services.
Who are The Rink at Rockefeller Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Legends Hospitality, Wollman Rink (in Central Park), Compass Group / Levy Restaurants, Aramark and Sodexo Live! (formerly Centerplate). Broad incumbents are Smyth + The Loyalist (Patina Group concepts) and MSG Entertainment (Madison Square Garden). The Rink at Bryant Park is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are TAO Group Hospitality and Oak View Group.
Does The Rink at Rockefeller Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Rink at Rockefeller Center.
What industry is The Rink at Rockefeller Center in?
The Rink at Rockefeller Center's product category is Ice Skating Rink. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAEAG, Ice Rinks & Winter Sports Facilities, with a secondary code of THAFAIAG, Concession & Stadium / Arena Catering. Its NAICS code is 713940 and its SIC code is 7900.