Local Flavors Spice Up St. Louis CITY SC Home Games

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of soccer, an enthusiastic epicure or simply an inquisitive visitor to St. Louis, you’ll want to plan your itinerary around St. Louis CITY SC’s schedule. CITYPARK, where the MLS team plays in the Downtown West neighborhood, celebrates so much more than soccer.

“You might come for a match, but you’ll be exposed to other incredible things that St. Louis has to offer,” Matt Sebek, chief experience officer of St. Louis CITY SC, says, “and you’ll begin to write a new narrative about St. Louis.”

In addition to powerful public art, carefully curated beats and clever original chants, CITYPARK boasts the most comprehensive food experience in sports. Enlisting a “flavor officer” – James Beard Award-winning chef Gerard Craft of Niche Food Group – the stadium compiled 25 local food partners for its inaugural season last year, and it plans to add even more for the upcoming season, which begins on Feb. 24.

Spanning cuisines and satiating diners, the food program at CITYPARK represents the impressive quality and expansive diversity of the St. Louis culinary scene.

“St. Louis is a great food city, and we want to lean into that,” Sebek says. “Food has a natural connection to soccer, too. Like the sport, food is a universal language; it’s international and communal. You eat with family and friends – preferably while watching the game.”

Season two at CITYPARK will again feature exclusively local food partners, and guests can expect a mouthwatering variety of flavors from Bosnia, Vietnam, Italy, the Philippines, Senegal, Greece, Korea and beyond. And don’t sleep on American staples such as barbecue and hot dogs!

Rounding out its original offerings, CITYPARK has introduced seven new food partners for St. Louis CITY SC’s second season. Sink your teeth into the famous O+O Burger from contemporary bistro Olive + Oak, indulge in a fried chicken sandwich from Southern eatery Sunday Best or order a burrito with kimchi rice from fusion restaurant Seoul Taco at your next game. Other vendor highlights – both new and old – include Anthonino’s Taverna, Balkan Treat Box, Donut Drive-In, Olio, Pastaria and Steve’s Hot Dogs.

“The food program was an overwhelming success last year,” Sebek says. “While most soccer stadiums do the majority of their sales at halftime, CITYPARK did 65 percent of its sales before the first whistle. Fans are showing up early to have dinner, which just isn’t the case at sports venues.

“Building on the momentum, we want to give guests even more options when they come to the stadium in 2024,” he continues. “We want to accommodate more dietary restrictions with allergy friendly dishes and offer more meals for families with kids.”

Technology also elevates the dining experience at CITYPARK. Mobile ordering and pickup windows streamline the process, reducing waste, improving efficiency and increasing productivity. “While most stadiums have less than one percent of orders come through mobile, CITYPARK has more than 20 percent,” Sebek explains. “That’s an incredible percentage!”

When it comes to unique culinary experiences, CITYPARK has eclipsed the best stadiums – and even some of the best food halls – in the nation, making it a top destination for food fanatics and soccer fans alike.