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A recent change in ownership for the Sioux Falls Canaries baseball team means a lot of changes both on and off the field.
And one of the biggest changes fans will notice is completely revamped concessions.
“We thought there was no better time than now,” said Duell Higbe, the team’s general manager.
Instead of going through a third party, the organization decided to take full control with the menu and pricing, and executive chef Jess Blodgett is very excited about it.
“Come with empty bellies!” she said. Blodgett says since this is the Canaries’ 30th year, they want it to feel special in every way.
“Our goal is to make it affordable and fun,” she said. “We want to bring back that excitement, get people to make a day of it, and really almost make it feel like we’re going to a fair.”
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Here’s what the Canaries have planned for food and beverage options this season:
Canaries making food for the fans
There will be some small changes to the concessions menu, like switching to curly fries that stay crispy longer and including options like lettuce, tomato and onions for your burger, Blodgett said.
Fans can get their basics like pretzels and nachos, but then there will be added twists like walking tacos with Flaming Hot Cheetos, footlong corn dogs and mac ‘n cheese burgers.
Another fan favorite is sure to be the rodeo burger, said Blodgett. It’s a cheeseburger topped with pulled pork and onion. There will also be five-foot grills in front of the gates where they’ll cook the burgers and hot dogs to order.
“You really can’t get any better than that,” Blodgett said.
Chili for the loaded chili dogs will be made in-house from scratch, like many other items.
Ordering the pizza box nachos will get you a pound of tortilla chips loaded with all your super nacho ingredients, and it comes in a pizza box. Fans can even get veggie wraps, buffalo chicken or chicken/bacon/ranch.
There will be a taco stand and Crazy Bird street corn, and adults wanting an alcoholic beverage won’t have to wait behind kids buying soda and candy anymore, as there will also be a “Harry Canary” beer-only window to streamline the process.
Something for those with a sweet tooth
Tropical Sno will still be selling their shaved ice, and fans can still get ice cream from Family Treats.
Kettle corn and cotton candy also aren’t going away anytime soon, but for those who want new options, the concessions will have fried Oreos and cheesecake waffle bowls, which come in two flavors: strawberry crunch and blueberry vanilla.
What’s to drink?
As far as beer goes, the concessions will sell “Lion’s Paw” from Fernson and “Queen Bee” from Remedy, as well as Bud Light, Coors Light and Corona with lime.
For those who want a more fruity adult drink, there will be White Claws and Truly’s, and Tropical Sno is even offering a “Boozy Sno” cone at their stand.
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Even though the Canaries don’t have a liquor license, Blodgett says they’re doing what they can to expand their drink options, such as having wine samples and creating specials like Margarita Mondays and Sangria Saturdays where the drinks are made with beer bases.
Non-alcoholic drink options will include typical Coke products, iced tea, lemonade, and cold brew coffee, which is new on the menu.
More bang for your buck
Pricing, for the most part, is staying consistent.
Fans will be happy to know that beer is actually cheaper than it used to be since there’s no third party to go through. Instead of $7 for a regular beer, the price is now $6.
Because there are more sizes, prices for some other items are cheaper. One is the new $3 Econo Dog (a smaller hot dog) that people can get instead of a Jumbo Dog for $5.
Combos are $10 for a bucket full of fries and a sandwich, and they’re even served in a baseball cap basket.
On Fridays and Saturdays, there will also be an all-you-can-eat-and-drink party deck. For $45, fans can have all the food and drink they want.
Vegan, fresh, and allergen-friendly
Not only will most of the food, such as chili for chili dogs, be made in-house, but it will also be as fresh as possible, Blodgett said. That includes fresh vegetables and fruit cups as a healthier side option for those who want something sweet that’s not a candy bar.
“Our goal is to keep everything as fresh as possible and to cater to people’s different dietary needs and goals,” said Blodgett.
There will be vegan hot dogs and gluten-free buns and tortillas for wraps and sandwiches, she said, so that everyone can still have a chance to experience the food.
Another new feature is the QR code on all the menus, which will take the user to an online section to get their questions answered, including a what’s-in-the-food allergen sheet.
Special menus for suites and party decks
There will be QR codes all over in the Diamond Club and suites, where fans can order food and have it brought to them. The party decks will have their own special menus that include mac ‘n cheese, potato salad, coleslaw and pasta salad.
The suites’ menus will also feature shrimp cocktails, deviled eggs and chocolate-covered strawberries as well as Asian and Italian platters and a fajita bar.
Thinking outside the box
Weekends shouldn’t get all the love. Throughout the season, “crazy, out-of-box” items will be served at the concessions on various random days.
One of those items, for example, will be a hot dog covered with beer cheese sauce and apple Pop Rocks.
Another item the Canaries will feature is a Thanksgiving-style chicken sandwich. It will have slow-cooked chicken breast pulled apart and filled with stuffing, craisins and the whole Thanksgiving works.
“It’s something you’d never think to do, but we’re excited for it,” said Blodgett. “It’s just going to be a really awesome experience for everyone.”
https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/business-journal/2022/05/16/sioux-falls-canaries-baseball-making-big-changes-concessions-season-food-drink-beer/9675714002/
