ESPN's Outside the Lines has collected health department inspection reports for food and beverage vendors at 107 MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL sports arenas in the United States and Canada. Each arena's percentages of "critical violations" were tallied -- meaning food that "might pose a serious risk for food-borne illnesses." Final scores were based on the percentage of vendors in violation of health requirements.
First, the good news: If you are from Canada, you can enjoy your ballpark concession food with little worry about getting ill. In fact, zero vendors at Air Canada Centre, home of the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs, had critical violations. Three arenas in the States also nabbed a perfect score.
Now the bad news: If you live in Florida, as we suspect many of you do, your sports facilities scored lower than those in any other state -- all eight of our facilities sported more than a 60 percent rating. And Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Rays, is one of only two arenas in the survey that had 100 percent of vendors in violation. Not far below: A tie between American Airlines Arena -- home of the Miami Heat (keep Dwyane and LeBron away from the concessions!) -- and Sun Life Stadium, where our Florida Marlins and Miami Dolphins play. Ninety-three percent of vendors at these stadiums were hit with one critical violation or another.
Keep reading for full Florida ballpark scoreboard and specific violations of each. For the full national list, go here.
American Airlines Arena
Miami Heat
Vendors with critical violations: 93 percent
Inspection report excerpt: Critical violations included several safety
issues related to electrical wiring and equipment such as gas boilers.
Amway Arena
Orlando Magic
Vendors with critical violations: 75 percent
Inspection report excerpt: At a location that sells fish, inspectors
found potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food not consumed/sold within
a week of opening/preparation.
BankAtlantic Center
Florida Panthers
Vendors with critical violations: 67 percent
Inspection report excerpt: Inspectors issued several violations for soiled ice bins and coolers.
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
Jacksonville Jaguars
Vendors with critical violations: 77 percent
Inspection report excerpt: At least 11 locations cited for holding hot
food at temperatures below 135 degrees, causing potential bacterial
growth.
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Vendors with critical violations: 84 percent
Inspection report excerpt: Inspectors found chicken tenders not being cooked to the required 165 degrees.
St. Pete Times Forum
Tampa Bay Lightning
Vendors with critical violations: 88 percent
Inspection report excerpt: At one location with five critical
violations, an inspector saw an employee handle dirty dishes and then
put away clean dishes without washing his/her hands or changing gloves.
The same location lacked soap at a hand sink.
Sun Life Stadium
Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins
Vendors with critical violations: 93 percent
Inspection report excerpt: In June 2009, an employee complained
anonymously that small insects and other debris were blended into
frozen alcoholic beverages at a stand where equipment wasn't being
cleaned. When inspectors checked, they issued a critical violation for
a buildup of slime inside the frozen drinks machine.
Tropicana Field
Tampa Bay Rays
Vendors with critical violations: 100 percent
Inspection report excerpt: Several violations addressed dirty
countertops, utensils, and equipment. Although every report indicated a
critical violation, all vendors met basic inspection standards to keep
operating.
