Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLCScarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Firm News

Three Steps to Becoming a Sports Arena Food Vendor

Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

Date: May 13, 2015

Key Contacts

Back

What if you could catch all the sports you desired with a treasure trove of free food in tow? What if you could do this while making money? Setting up as a sports arena food vendor might sound great, but there is plenty of work to be done before you start selling hot dogs to fans.

Sports arena food vendor ownership, while profitable, can’t be undertaken without a few required steps:

  • First you will need to obtain the proper licensing.
  • Next, you will need to acquire insurance for your business.
  • Finally, you’ll need to speak with Concession Management at your chosen venue.

If you can get past these obstacles, the rewards could prove significant. Vendors at sporting events typically mark-up prices significantly, and as a result, they realize a substantial profit on the items they sell.

The profit margins for drinks alone are often in excess of 90 percent, as Sports-Management-Degrees.com illustrated in an infographic. Even nachos, which are sold at the lowest profit margin, maintain an average profit margin of 47-64. Simply put, selling food and drinks at sports events is profitable. If you’d like to get your hands on the money to be made from concessions sales, speak with an attorney. But before you do that, take a look at these crucial first steps:

  1. Obtain a License

    Most, if not all arenas will not permit you to sell anything on their premises without proper licensing. State health departments often control access to licenses for food preparation and sale, and fines for failure to obtain the proper licensure can be pretty hefty. Thus, it’s essential ensure that you are allowed to sell food before you endeavor to start doing so. In New Jersey, for example, the first step is getting your general business license and DBA (doing business as), BusinessNameUSA.com noted. In addition, you will be required to obtain a seller’s permit. There’s a chance you won’t have employees, but in the event that you do, you will also need to obtain state and federal Employer Identification Numbers. Additionally, your location or cart will be required to pass a health inspection, and you might need to obtain additional licensure, such as for selling and preparing food, depending on the state in which you conduct business.

  2. Make sure You have Insurance

    You might be licensed to sell hot dogs, but you’re not ready to step into the arena just yet. Depending on which state you live in, you will also need to apply for insurance. There are a variety of options to choose from, and even if insurance isn’t a requirement in your state, it can still prove helpful. It would be useful to seek advice from an attorney on the subject. Vendor insurance can certainly help protect owners from the unexpected costs that can significantly set back a concessions vendor, Marine Agency Insurance explained. If you’re selling from a trailer, you will also need some sort of vehicle insurance. It is important to look into what types of insurance you will need, depending on where you do business. The insurance you need may depend on the venue where you plan to work. For example, Marine Agency noted that it offers group coverage for individual vendors gathered in a single location.

  3. Meet with Concessions Management

Once you have obtained your licenses and are fully insured, it’s finally time to stop by the arena. First, you will need to understand the vendor policies of your chosen arena and speak with the concessions management team there about whether you can set up, and, if so, where to do so. For example: will they want you to set up outdoors, within the hallways or set up at a permanent location? Representatives from the stadium will be able to help you determine these things.

There are several steps to take and documents to complete through before you enter an arena as a vendor, but once you do you will be ready to start reaping profits. For specific licensing and insurance questions, such as “How do I obtain a business license in New Jersey” or “What type of insurance do I need to run a food cart near Madison Square Garden,” it’s best to consult with an attorney.

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Related Posts

See all
Bloomberg Law Podcast Discusses Shaquille O’Neil FTX Settlement With Ron Bienstock post image

Bloomberg Law Podcast Discusses Shaquille O’Neil FTX Settlement With Ron Bienstock

Bloomberg Law Podcast Discusses Shaquille O’Neil FTX Settlement With Ron Bienstock Little Falls, NJ – June 24, 2025 – Scarinci & Hollenbeck, LLC Partner and Chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property and Entertainment & Media departments Ronald S. Bienstock recently joined the Bloomberg Law podcast to discuss Shaquille O’Neal settling a class-action lawsuit over his FTX endorsement. […]

Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

Link to post with title - "Bloomberg Law Podcast Discusses Shaquille O’Neil FTX Settlement With Ron Bienstock"
Donald M. Pepe Leads Donation of Laptops to York Street Project post image

Donald M. Pepe Leads Donation of Laptops to York Street Project

Scarinci Hollenbeck Partner Facilitates Donation of 43 Laptops to Jersey City Organization Little Falls, NJ  – July 1, 2025 – Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC is proud to recognize partner Donald M. Pepe’s dedication to the community by facilitating the donation of 43 new Dell laptops to the York Street Project. Don’s commitment and dedication to sourcing these […]

Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

Link to post with title - "Donald M. Pepe Leads Donation of Laptops to York Street Project"
Feedspot Names Government & Law Blog One of the Top Public Law Blogs post image

Feedspot Names Government & Law Blog One of the Top Public Law Blogs

FeedSpot Recognizes Donald Scarinci’s Government & Law Blog One of the Top 20 Public Law Blogs Little Falls, NJ – May 22, 2025 – Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC is honored to share that Managing Partner Donald Scarinci’s Government & Law blog has been listed by FeedSpot.com as one of the “20 Best Public Law Blogs and […]

Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

Link to post with title - "Feedspot Names Government & Law Blog One of the Top Public Law Blogs"
Scarinci Hollenbeck's Ron Bienstock Speaks at 100th Bomb Group's 2025 Reunion post image

Scarinci Hollenbeck's Ron Bienstock Speaks at 100th Bomb Group's 2025 Reunion

SH Partner and 100th Bomb Group Foundation Legal Counsel Discussed The Nuremberg Trials and the Law May 21, 2025 – Little Falls, NJ – Scarinci & Hollenbeck, LLC is proud to share that partner Ronald S. “Ron” Bienstock recently spoke at the 100th Bomb Group Biennial Reunion, held May 15-18, 2025, in New Orleans. The […]

Author: Ronald S. Bienstock

Link to post with title - "Scarinci Hollenbeck's Ron Bienstock Speaks at 100th Bomb Group's 2025 Reunion"
FeedSpot Names Donald Scarinci’s Constitutional Law Reporter One of the Top 100 Legal Blogs  post image

FeedSpot Names Donald Scarinci’s Constitutional Law Reporter One of the Top 100 Legal Blogs 

Little Falls, NJ – May 1, 2025 – Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC is proud to share that Managing Partner Donald Scarinci’s Constitutional Law Reporter blog has been listed by FeedSpot.com as one of the “Top 100 Legal Blogs.” No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Feedspot, a content reader that curates websites of […]

Author: Donald Scarinci

Link to post with title - "FeedSpot Names Donald Scarinci’s Constitutional Law Reporter One of the Top 100 Legal Blogs "
FeedSpot Names Donald Scarinci’s Government & Law Blog One of the Top 80 New Jersey Blogs  post image

FeedSpot Names Donald Scarinci’s Government & Law Blog One of the Top 80 New Jersey Blogs 

Little Falls, NJ – May 1, 2025 – Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC is proud to share that Managing Partner Donald Scarinci’s Government & Law blog has been listed by FeedSpot.com as one of the “80 Best New Jersey Blogs and Websites in 2025.” *No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New […]

Author: Donald Scarinci

Link to post with title - "FeedSpot Names Donald Scarinci’s Government & Law Blog One of the Top 80 New Jersey Blogs "

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!

Explore What Matters Most to You.

Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.

Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.

Let`s get in touch!

* The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.

Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!