JTA reports that it appears that there will be no kosher stand at Camden Yards for the upcoming 2009 Orioles season. Jonathan Katz, the owner of Kosher Sports, which runs the kosher stand, claims that the deal between his company and Aramark, the O’s concessionaire, was so “poorly structured” that he couldn’t afford to continue operating. Aramark, on the other hand, claims it was willing to work with Katz but that he was unwilling. As of now, the kosher stand at M&T Bank Stadium remains in operation for the next Ravens’ season. If the 2009 season begins without a kosher stand, it will be the first time since the stadium opened in 1993 that a kosher food option was unavailable to O’s fans.
Without assigning blame to either side, this is just another example of the Orioles failing to meet their fans’ needs, in a variety of ways. While the kosher stand food was laughably overpriced, it gave kosher-keeping fans another option and allowed them to indulge in the American tradition of a hot dog at a baseball game. Here’s hoping Boog Powell goes kosher.
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It sounds like you *are* assigning blame.
I meant that it’s difficult to tell if Katz, or Aramarck, or both are to blame. Regardless, the Orioles dropped the ball.
This was news about two weeks ago. You guys need to get on the ball.
Back to packing sandwiches and juice boxes:(
Of course, if you made aliyah, you wouldn’t have to worry about such things.
It’s not baseball without a hot hotdog drowned in mustard and kraut. (at least to me)
Number of games I’m going to this year? Zero.
Is it so much to ask to at least have the opportunity the be gouged along with the goyim?
Docken-Feel free to join as a writer if you are so up to date on all the hock:)
AV-The truth is, having grown up going to Braves games in Atlanta with no kosher stand, it really is not such a big deal to me. The only interesting angle in my mind is that the Orioles can do nothing right to please their consumers.
In other big Oriole news, Cal Ripken retired.
Z – I made aliyah, and still try to get to an occasional game (usually with Greg and Penny).
Speaking of which, we’ll be in the area in July
The beer’s still kosher, right?
Beer is always kosher!
The Jewish Times is reporting that the The O’s, Aramark and Kosher Sports have come to an agreement and there will be Kosher stand this year.