Community Catering!

In 2003 the Cowboys Rugby League Football Club sought and gained the services of the Cowboys Leagues Club to provide the catering services at its home ground, Dairy Farmers Stadium (DFS).   With an anticipated 15,000 public and 2000 corporate patrons, the Leagues Club engaged a small number of community groups to assist in the public catering area. The almost overnight lift in catering services was recognised, as was the involvement of the community groups.

Following this success, in 2004 the club and football club sought support from the new venue owner, the Major Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA), to expand the involvement of the community groups in the delivery of public catering services. Permission was given and a model was derived that saw the club appoint community groups to provide all food catering services to the public arena. The club viewed that, while it would be forgoing revenues in excess of $500,000, a unique opportunity existed to provide significant direct community benefits in keeping with its charter. At the completion of 2004 the community groups generated in excess of $500,000 sales, and retained profits in excess of $200,000.   The community groups have enriched the carnival atmosphere of events at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

The club, in its contract with the MSFA, has secured the role of the community groups for 2005 and for a possible further 3 years. In all, 12 community groups will provide public food catering in the year ahead. The groups are supported in their role further by the club through

• Provision of maintained outlets and equipment
• Negotiation of group buying prices
• Training
• Product distribution

DFS is the only MSFA venue in which a commercial caterer does not provide catering services.