Earlier this week, the Atlanta Braves announced five social impact initiatives they’re spearheading across the greater ATL area. Each one is part of their All-Star Legacy Project, and represents a long-term commitment to the community beyond the big-ticket weekend being hosted at Truist Park in July.
One of these initiatives in particular caught our attention: the creation of a special sensory space to make sure that all fans are able to attend games, and have a calm place to take breaks whenever they need.
Image source: The Braves Foundation on IG
While this isn’t the first sensory room in a major sports stadium or arena, we love that these kinds of inclusive spaces are becoming more mainstream. And, it also got us thinking…
What other sorts of spaces might help the Braves Level-Up their fandom, loyalty, and community connections?
Our first thought: allergy-safe concessions.
Image generated by AI
Food allergies are no joke for many kids and families. But stadium and arena concessions are typically loaded with many of the most common food triggers — peanuts, wheat, dairy, soy, you name it — which makes it pretty tough for anyone with allergies to really enjoy a day at the game.
Many teams already have some level of accommodations in place, whether it’s peanut-free seating, gluten-free menus, or clearly posted ingredient lists. (S/O to the Miami Dolphins who added a “limited-allergen kitchen” and received training from FARE in 2021).
But what if the Braves, or any other team, went a step further to create an entire concession area with food options (and dining spaces) that make game-day food more accessible for everyone?
🍦Think dairy-free ice cream.
🍔 Egg and soy-free veggie burgers.
🆓 Peanut-free Cracker Jacks.
🌭Gluten or wheat-free hot dog and hamburger buns.
🧈 Nothing fried in peanut oil.
And, everything at a comparable cost to the standard stadium fare, because there’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re being up-charged to make sure you don’t wind-up in the hospital. (Spokin.com has a list of venues already doing a great job here.)
The Braves have introduced some really innovative things with their food offerings this season, like introducing the Outfield Market (check it out in DL 60), which showcases a local nonprofit, chefs, and flavors from around the A. Why not go one step further and offer an allergy-safe, locally-sourced option, too?
Not only are these kinds of gestures an incredible way to make sports events more accessible, but they’re also great brand partnership plays (Tyson? Whole Foods? Daiya? Aramark?). We’re pretty sure that whichever teams and brands figure out how to elevate their allergy-free plays are going win some dedicated fans for life.
