Super Bowl LVII 2023 is just around the corner and football fans everywhere are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting game. Scheduled for Sunday, February 12th, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, we wonder, what’s up on the foodie front at State Farm Stadium?
Super Bowl LVII will feature the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Kansas City Chiefs and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Philadelphia Eagles. But the food promises to be a main event as well. Sorry, Rhianna.
A little fun fact: The game has been informally referred to as “The Kelce Bowl” since it will mark the first Super Bowl to feature brothers playing against each other: Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Eagles center Jason Kelce.
So let’s cut to the chase. If you’re lucky enough to score tickets, game day at State Farm Stadium will also be a memorable menagerie of delectable delights for finicky foodies. Since no food can be brought in, you’re going to be stuck with what they sell at the stadium, and keep in mind you’re only allowed one non-frozen bottle of water at 16 ounces or less.
Depending on where you have seats inside the stadium, this will dictate the level of cuisine you get to indulge in, but there are no bottom-feeders here. Even the nose-bleed section gets access to some great eats curated by the residence executive chef, which we’ll get to in a moment. First, we’ll start with the zenith of State Farm Stadium fare, the Club Level.
Club Level – Cuisine By Executive Chef Sean Kavanaugh
A Club Level ticket to an Arizona Cardinals game gives you the pinnacle spectator experience, with cushiony seats that offer extra-wide legroom, perfectly positioned center-field to let you take in the action from both sides of the field without missing a beat!
Taking Instagramulous photos!
Or will you miss a beat (AKA, the big play)? As a self-proclaimed foodie, you’ll need to take your eyes off the field once in a while to get fabulous Instagram photos of your cuisine, but with super long big-screen TVs inside the Club Level, you can still catch the replays.
Plus, you get to take advantage of before and post-game happy hours, early access to the stadium, exclusive team events, and a 20% merchandise discount – what more could a fan ask for?
There are a ton of other perks including 6 full-service signature bars, private entrances to the stadium, and a 49′ foot-long video wall. This overlooks a service bar that extends over 64′ long with nine points of sale. So, no waiting for that whiskey old-fashioned or mocktail, depending on how you like to consume your sports.
Executive Chef Sean Kavanaugh At State Farm Stadium
The top-notch food creations at the Club Level are helmed by Executive Chef Sean Kavanaugh who carries quite an impressive resume under his belt. This includes working with high-level events such as the 2010 Winter Olympics, four Super Bowls, and multiple global summits.
His hard work and dedication to superior service and memorable food are evident in his accomplishments, including The Restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton Phoenix. This was rated the 9th Best Restaurant in the United States by Conde Nast Traveler magazine. And here he is cooking at a stadium. Lucky you!
Chef Sean has created a unique menu that highlights local flavors, with his signature dishes that include a variety of Southwest-inspired dishes. You’ll even find a cactus-stuffed poblano pepper, along with pork enchiladas, and a variety of tacos to satisfy your southwest cravings.
He owns and runs Craft Culinary Concepts, and also takes good care of some of Arizona’s finest locations including the famous Arizona-Sonora Museum, Roy Rogers Memorial Center, and the Mesa Amphitheatre.
Tasty Pleasures – The Concession Stands
With the cheapest tickets selling for around $8,760 and climbing with each passing day, we can’t really say this food classifies as snacks for the common folk.
On top of the crazy cost of your average ticket, just getting tickets to the Super Bowl is quite difficult for the average fan. This is because the NFL distributes most of the tickets to the 32 NFL teams (with the two Super Bowl teams getting the biggest percentage).
But still, if you’re lucky enough to land here on game day, then just know you’ll still have access to some exquisite food to munch on, regardless of where you sit. This is because Chef Sean’s got your back, designing a scrumptious menu for the concession stands as well.
Kavanaugh added some new items to the menu, including Big Red’s mini tacos, made with flavorful chicken, cheese, and jalapeno, with a side of nacho cheese. If you’re looking for something even more special, try his new twist on an upscale burger called a Quesabirria Burger (a cross between a taco and a quesadilla).
This burger consists of a half-pound of grilled Omaha steak burger, slow-braised beef birria, Chihuahua cheese, and tantalizing Jalisco salsa, all served on a luscious brioche bun. Something you can enjoy with a side of crunchy fries!
Just to note, there’s no chihuahua dog in Chihuahua cheese, it’s just the name of a yummy authentic Mexican melting cheese, that tastes as good as it looks dripping down the side of your burger. Are we good, PETA?
Back by popular demand, Chef Sean said that they’ll be making the craft cheesesteak sandwich which came to a halt during the pandemic. This is layered with sliced beef ribeye, peppers, onions, and melted provolone on a soft hoagie roll. That $9,000 ticket is starting to earn its keep.
In addition, you can make a hearty meal out of Honey Bear’s BBQ smoked barbecue chicken, brisket, and pork sandwiches. Of course, you also got the usual standbys for an authentic stadium experience – popcorn, hot dogs, chicken wings, chicken tenders, peanuts, pretzels, water, soda, and beer.
Good News On The Beer Front
Speaking of beer, you’ll be glad to know that the Arizona Cardinals charge a little less, compared to other stadiums, with a 16-ounce pint of beer costing an average of $8.13 at State Farm Stadium. That’s lower than the NFL average of $9.50, so it’s good news for Arizona Cardinals fans who already pay enough for their tickets. Although it seems to be a little comical to have this discussion after you just paid almost $9,000 for a ticket.
What Beer Is Served At State Farm Stadium?
At State Farm Stadium, you can enjoy a wide selection of beer to accompany your game-day experience. With a maximum of two alcoholic beverages allowed per person per transaction, and alcohol sales cut off at the end of the third quarter, you’ll want to make sure you get your fill of beer before the buzzer.
Popular beer options at the stadium include the Hazy Angel IPA from LumberYard Brewing Company, Hop Knot from Four Peaks Brewing Company, Michelob ULTRA from Anheuser-Busch, Music City Hazy Mosaic IPA from Behemoth Brewing Company, The Joy Bus WOW Wheat Ale from Four Peaks Brewing Company, and more.
Dessert!
We can’t leave out Doc’s Artisan Gelato and Sorbet. This concession offers a wide range of ice cream flavors in waffle cones. Good ol’ Doc’s concoctions have been named “Best Ice Cream in Phoenix” by the Phoenix New Times and is the ice cream of choice for some of Arizona’s top resorts and restaurants.
After a career of over 20 years with Phoenix PD, Doc traveled the country learning all he could about the art of ice cream before opening his shop. he was already known for his culinary skills cooking for his fellow officers so this was a natural transition, deciding to lean towards the sweets. Doc’s a true master with gelato and ice cream, and foodie’s from any seat in the stadium can go on the hunt for these chilled tidbits.
Say What? Golf During Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona?
Yep, you heard us right. Unless you’re a local, no one just drops in for Super Bowl LVII and then flies right home. You’ll want to bring your clubs and make some time to hit one of these award-winning courses at these top Scottsdale resorts, which is just the next neighborhood over. The greater Phoenix metropolis has around 300 golf courses, so come for the game, stay for some sunshine, and R&R.
Conclusion
For foodies looking for love in all the right places, State Farm Stadium is the perfect place to enjoy a football game or any other event while partaking in culinary perfection. With a variety of classic stadium food and new items on the menu, fans have plenty of options to choose from when planning their visit to the stadium.
From traditional stadium favorites to unique food offerings re-imagined from the mind of an executive chef, there’s something for everyone. Additionally, tailgating festivities that occur four hours before kick-off can help fans get into the spirit of the game before they take their seats inside the stadium. If you’re on a special diet of everything your body hates but your brain loves, this might be a good way to go.
Remember, be sure to check out the State Farm Stadium’s smoking guide and bring in only one non-frozen bottle of water of 16 ounces or less as outside food is not allowed. With all these great food and beverage options, State Farm Stadium is sure to provide an enjoyable experience for all.
