We’ll start with the basics:
- Red Bull New York has partnered with Levy, a well-known leader in sports & entertainment hospitality, to launch Red Seat Hospitality. The move coincides with a wholesale transformation of Sports Illustrated Stadium’s food experience — think better food and better places to eat it.
- New signature menu items include the Jersey Ripper Hot Dog, Meatball Parm Smashburger, Pesto Parm Sandwich, hand‑breaded chicken tenders and hand‑pulled Bavarian pretzels.
- You’ll also find expanded options from local vendors, including Nucha’s empanadas, The Urban Cone’s craft ice cream and Carson’s Cookies — the latter a terrific company founded to support the neurodiverse (more on that later this year).
- There also are new places to actually enjoy your food while taking in the match, including the Hype House (see our full feature for more).
We’ll add a quick reminder:
The Red Bulls’ home schedule starts Saturday at 2:30 p.m., followed by a second home match next Sunday, March 8 at 4:30 p.m. (Ticket info here) And the club opened the season last weekend with a win.
Now, we’ll turn to what really matters: the food.
When you go to Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, here’s what you’ll want to try first. Yes, it’s a three-way tie at the top.
1A: The Pesto Parm Sandwich
It’s as if the chefs couldn’t decide between chicken parm or pesto chicken parm — so they put both on a bun. And it works. The flavors play nicely together, and more importantly, they complement a fresh, juicy chicken tender. (As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of chicken, we appreciate this. The new hand-breaded tenders were strong for the same reason.)
1B: Nucha’s Empanadas
The only thing we like more than chicken is food from Latin America or Spain, which made this stop an easy choice. Nucha’s offers four varieties: chipotle chicken, ground beef, Italian sausage and vegan pinto bean.
The chipotle chicken was a standout for us — confirmed by those who sampled the extras at home. Another reviewer raved about the beef and Italian sausage. Hat tip to YouTuber KingSchratz, whose line about “upscale Hot Pockets” was meant — and received — as a compliment with a chuckle.
We didn’t try the vegan option, but it’s good that it’s there. (If that’s your thing, make sure you check out Adenah Bayoh’s Brick City Vegan in Newark – and Montclair.)
1C: Ben’s Bavarian Soft Pretzels
The only things we like more than chicken and Hispanic food are pretzels. And Ben’s delivered. Full disclosure: We’re not usually fans of flavored pretzels (no need to cover them in chocolate), but the cinnamon soft pretzel with icing was stunningly good — fresh, warm and bend‑y, not stiff and burnt like what you get from a street cart.
Worth noting: the pretzel bun on the pesto parm also deserves praise.
We’ll end with some final thoughts:
A strong showing by the Red Bulls and Levy at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison — a slight step up from the tasting we did before the Devils’ season started. And we’re already looking forward to the next round of sampling. Yes, we’re throwing down the challenge flag — and hope we get invited back for free food.
