The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs has welcomed the news that Western Sydney-headquartered and family-owned business the Gema Group will bring the best of our city’s diverse culinary culture into Accor Stadium.
Following an extensive competitive tender process run under the NSW Government procurement framework, Venues NSW has today announced that the Gema Group has been selected as the exclusive hospitality experience partner at premier western Sydney venues, inclusive of the Club's home ground in Accor Stadium.
The partnership will see some of Sydney’s most popular restaurants and brands available for patrons' at Bulldogs home games at Accor Stadium in 2024. Restaurants including:
- Al Aseel: Traditional Lebanese cuisine that started in Greenacre and now has seven restaurants with a significant presence in western Sydney.
- Ribs & Burgers, The Meat and Wine Co., and Five Guys will be brought to both venues by Seagrass Boutique Hospitality Group. Global burger chain, Five Guys, opened its first Australian store in Penrith in 2021. This is the first time Five Guys will be available in a stadium anywhere in the world.
- El Jannah: Lebanese-style charcoal chicken; flavours born in Granville 25 years ago.
- Sushi Hub: Japanese sushi and sashimi. The Sushi Hub story began in Cabramatta and has grown to a 100-outlet network.
- Roll’d: Vietnamese rolls and rice-paper rolls served fresh and fast, a national favourite born in Melbourne in 2012.
- Oak Berry: Brazilian acai bowls, the number one acai brand in the world.
- In addition to these famous brands will be reimagined stadium favourites, including hot dogs, hot chips, pies, rice bowls, tacos, nachos, gozleme, fish and chips, souvlaki, falafel, pizza by the slice, plant-based burgers, among other delicious items. Food trucks and carts will also operate for special events.
Accor Stadium's two terraces will be transformed into event day destinations, with Ribs & Burgers and award-winning Lebanese restaurant Al Aseel reimagining these spaces, serving a mix of their favourite dishes in the stadium setting for the first time.
Bulldogs Members will enjoy a renewed dining and bar experience, with The Meat and Wine Co., a unique African-inspired steakhouse, Ribs & Burgers, and Al Aseel available.
Outside of footy and for selected major events at Accor Stadium, Crown Sydney will bring to life a premium hospitality experience through a unique, high-quality offering with one of their most popular restaurants, Nobu.
The Gema Group has vast major event experience in Australia across Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, Repco Supercars Championship, Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix and LIV Golf. Gema Group also has strong stadium experience and is in-house at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast, GIO Stadium in Canberra, and both 4 Pines and PointsBet Stadiums in Sydney, among other venues.
Headquartered in Silverwater, the Gema Group is a leading employer in western Sydney, sourcing the majority of produce locally and bringing a fresh approach to stadium sustainability and innovation. Fans can expect fast self-check-out service, in-seat delivery, and Draft Top, which removes the lid from cans to minimise single-use plastics. More innovative measures will be introduced from 2024.
The Bulldogs badge, key players and the blue and white will also be on display across food and beverage packaging, ensuring the ultimate home-ground advantage.
Gema Group Managing Director Paul Valenti said: “We’re bringing the best of western Sydney’s diverse food and wine culture into NSW’s major venues.
“We look forward to giving the millions of people who attend sporting and entertainment events the ultimate taste of Sydney.”
NSW Minister for Sport and Small Business Steve Kamper said: “This is a great announcement that will not only highlight the flavours of Western Sydney, it will create jobs and support many small to medium family-owned businesses, like the legendary El Jannah.”
Venues NSW Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather said: “We’re incredibly excited to partner with Gema Group who will revolutionise the event experience for the millions of fans who visit Accor Stadium.
“We will be giving fans the ultimate choice of cuisine; reflecting the diverse communities who attend our events and Sydney’s richness of culture.”
With the 2024 NRL Telstra Premiership draw just days away from being released, Members and fans can look forward to an exciting year of footy and food at the home of the Bulldogs.
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