We get it. It is the summer. It is slow out there. ESPN did a massive report. We didn’t get good grades. We are what our record says we are. We need to improve. We need to be best in class. We are focused.
I do want to make a couple of comments. From what I have gleaned so far, the DC government is really tough on inspections. We get scheduled and unscheduled inspections. There is a description of the problem presented and then there is an immediate fix offered up. Aramark and Levy take this all very seriously, as do we. Any issues that were reported back in 2009 we have taken care of already, and now we as a new team are working to make sure we get zero citations ever again. That is our goal. It will be tough to achieve but we want to have huge aspirations.
And I am actually happy that the local DC health departments are so stringent and tough minded — as they should be. But as I look at some of the other reports from other cities, I do have to ask how standard these inspections are and how level the playing field is on an apples to apples basis. Be that as it may, it doesn’t matter. We are all dedicated to safety, security, cleanliness, efficiency, and your happiness and satisfaction.We will not be defensive. This is the business that we have chosen – and what job has PaintdrinkingPete chosen again? 
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What I really resent is the relatively recent policy of not being able to bring in outside food and drink. Of course, “security” was the reason cited, which is ridiculous. I highly doubt I was going to do much damage to the guy in front of me with a grilled chicken sub from Subway. Nationals Park lets you bring in your own food, as does Wolf Trap so security is not the issue. It was simply to force people to use the horrible Armark concessions, which have to be THE worst in the business. I agree with the first poster–nothing like a little competition among vendors to get tastier and, hoepfully cleaner, food.
You say “We will not be defensive” after you criticize the fact that ESPN is even doing a story like this because “it is slow out there” and complain that DC is tougher than other cities. That is very passive-aggressive. First of all, having 100% of vendors (!!!) in violation is absolutely newsworthy regardless of what time of year it is. Second, your arena is in D.C. and with its benefits also come its responsibilities.
I understand your criticism about comparisons between cities. However, Nationals Park is presumably also inspected by the DC Health Departments, and fared significantly better.
In a way it’s a pity this has come up, because in the past couple of Caps seasons the beer-only concessions in the 400′s have been the best they’ve ever been – first-rate selection and, for the most part, quick service.
The Verizon center didn’t fail because the health inspectors were “too stringent”, it failed because there were mice droppings at at least 10 vendors. That is unacceptable and would not have passed anywhere. 100% of the vendors failed and something needs to be done immediately.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=5401646
PLEASE take care of this problem. I want to see the Caps, not Mickey Mouse and friends. And I’d like to think I’m the only one who has nibbled on my food.
I appreciate your focus on this. One interesting tidbit from the ESPN report: Nationals Park did pretty well. It seems like in contrast to the phonebooth they have a lot of small businesses operating various concessions, e.g. Ben’s Chili Bowl.
I would imagine a small business owner would be more motivated to keep a tip top concession versus some middle manager at a giant food conglomerate. Also, the food is tastier too.