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WILKES-BARRE — Chickie’s & Pete’s has stood as Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza’s most successful vendor since debuting in 2012. This year, fans of the stand’s crinkly Crabfries will have an alleviated wait thanks to the Philadelphia based restaurant’s bigger space in the arena.
Along with the bigger Chickie’s & Pete’s, the arena has reexamined its club section amenities and is putting the finishing touches on the section-exclusive Club Pub, scheduled to open Oct. 15 during the Penguins regular season opener against Hartford Wolf Pack. They’ve also added a new vendor, Glazed & Confuzed.
“Every year, we try and provide either some new menu items or reach out to local and national vendors to keep adding diversity to our concessions menu and keep things fresh for our season ticket holders,” said Steve Poremba, the arena’s director of sales and marketing.
The arena will introduce two new sandwiches at Glazed & Confuzed, located behind section 101 in the space formerly occupied by Sonic (which is moving to a different spot in the arena). Chuck Kovach, general manager of hospitality provider SAVOR at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, said they reviewed items from a variety of ballparks and arenas and formulated a menu of two sandwiches situated between an unorthodox set of buns.
“After some staff tasting sessions, the combination of a pulled pork BBQ or beef brisket sandwich with an onion ring topping smothered between two glazed gourmet doughnut shells was the staff favorite,” Kovach said.
The stand will be one of many at the arena to feature two-packs of Krispy Kreme doughnuts this season. It’ll also offer a menu of craft beers that will change seasonally.
Longtime Penguins season ticket holder Chandra Ruyak said she may not be able to get past the bread choice for the arena’s new sandwiches.
“I think I can deal without the glazed doughnut part,” said Chandra, a Scranton resident. “I do like pulled pork, I’d try it as long as it had a regular bun. I do like the Roast Beast (the arena’s signature sandwich, found at Lion’s Den stand).”
Ruyak’s father, Robert “Rudy” Ruyak, echoed his daughter’s sentiment when it came to Glazed & Confuzed’s doughnut buns. He said his favorite treat at the game is watching the team on the ice play, but when it’s time to eat he likes to purchase a kielbasa sandwich or a hot dog. Robert seemed more likely to try one of the stand’s craft beers than its sandwiches.
“I’ll take a look at it,” Robert said. “I am definitely a Molson man.”
Fans of adult beverages will have more options in the arena’s club section than anywhere else — the Club Pub, open only to club section ticket holders, will be the only vendor in the arena to serve wine and mixed drinks.
“Club seat holders previously had to go to the basement level of the venue to enjoy a mixed drink or wine,” Poremba said. “With the addition of the Irish-themed Pub, our club seat ticket holders will have easier access to these drinks that they can take back to their seats, plus exclusive menu items. The club seats are the only location on the concourse where fans will be able to bring a mixed drink or glass of wine to their seats for Penguins hockey games.”
For arena patrons who care more about Crabfries than cocktails, Chickie’s & Pete’s new location near the West Gate entrance was built to handle a larger crowd. Kovach said the stand’s new capabilities should expedite service.
Poremba said these new offerings will be joined by another new stand set to open sometime in October focused on hot dogs, brats and more craft beer selections. He said he has seen “an increase in similar sports venues creating their own specialty menu items to give fans something they may not experience at a traditional restaurant.” In 2016-17, Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza is following suit.