In preparation for the Super Bowl and amid major facility renovations, the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans required a full-service, temporary kitchen and dining solution. With thousands of meals to serve daily and no access to their permanent kitchen facilities, they turned to Response Logistics for a fast, dependable, and turnkey solution.
Background
Both teams faced the challenge of maintaining high-performance nutrition programs for professional athletes throughout a 12-month renovation window. The timeline was tight, the needs were complex, and the environment lacked the necessary infrastructure to support foodservice operations.
The Challenge
- Facility Conversion: Repurposing an equipment storage warehouse into a functioning dining space with custom-built serving areas.
- Temporary Kitchen Build: Designing and constructing a commercial-grade kitchen on a practice field.
- Utility Limitations: Absence of permanent sewer and grease trap infrastructure required a custom wastewater solution.
- Hurricane Risk: Operations needed to remain uninterrupted during potential severe weather events.
- High Volume Demand: The solution had to support daily meal production for professional athletes with specialized nutrition needs.
Equipment Provided
- 5 Skid Kitchens
- 2 – 8×20 Portable Coolers
- 1 – 8×10 Freezer
- 40×40 Temporary Kitchen Tent
- Full Buffet Setup (hot/cold lines, salad bars, smoothie stations, sneeze guards)
- Complete Permitting & Plumbing Installation
- 24/7 Utility Oversight & Wastewater Management
Implementation
The Response Logistics team mobilized within a 6-week lead time and executed full setup within 14 days. Our turnkey approach included:
- Converting the warehouse into a dedicated athlete dining facility.
- Constructing a fully operational commercial kitchen structure on the field.
- Managing permitting, plumbing, utility hookups, and wastewater systems.
- Implementing a hurricane contingency plan to ensure uninterrupted service.
- Overseeing daily operations with dedicated personnel for utility and equipment management.
Key Takeaways
- Speed & Precision: Full solution delivered in just two weeks.
- Turnkey Execution: No handoffs, no third-party delays — just results.
- Operational Continuity: Thousands of meals served daily without interruption.
- Expert execution: Trusted by high-profile teams where performance is non-negotiable.
