El Jannah, Al Aseel, Nobu to open at CommBank, Accor stadiums Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park

Sports fans are in for a treat this season with a cult Lebanese chicken shop and swanky steakhouse among major brands setting up shop at Sydney’s major stadiums. Find out when.

El Jannah is heading to a western Sydney stadium near you. Picture: Monique Harmer

Fast food heavyweights El Jannah, Ribs & Burgers and Five Guys are expanding their businesses to millions of sports fans when they open at CommBank and Accor stadiums as part of a culinary overhaul at the venues that have a combined capacity of 113,500.

Following an announcement in November that Venues NSW struck up a catering deal with Silverwater-based Gema Group, we can reveal El Jannah will open at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta, in time for the Eels’ first NRL game of the season against the Bulldogs on Saturday, March 9 at 5.30pm.

If fans prefer to save the charcoal chicken and garlic sauce for another meal, other popular options are Ribs & Burgers, the healthy acai chain Oakberry, Roll’d Vietnamese eatery and Sushi Hub, which will also debut at the Parramatta stadium alongside El Jannah.

Gema Group will also introduce new brands including Fld Grazer, 6 Burner, Chicken Run, Gozleme, Greco Re, Jimmy’s Catch, Sizzlin’ Grill, Schooner and Slice, Grab. Go and Bar Syd, to CommBank.

“There will be a great variety of food options to suit all tastebuds at CommBank Stadium,’’ a Gema spokesman said.

El Jannah’s footprint is expanding into the stadium market. Picture: Monique Harmer

“Gema Group has been working incredibly hard over the past few weeks to ensure all outlets are open in time for the start of the NRL season at CommBank Stadium.

“We can’t wait to showcase the new food offering to fans.’’

El Jannah will have a special menu for fans includin a quarter chicken plate, three tenders, regular EJ bites, a wings box, EJ chicken burger, chicken roll and falafel roll.

New eateries will be served across existing outlets, while carts and food trucks will also be used for events.

Further east down the M4 at Sydney Olympic Park, Accor Stadium will also host El Jannah, Al Aseel, Oakberry, Sushi Hub, Gozleme, Jimmy’s Catch and Sizzlin’ Grill in time for the start of the NRL kick off.

Other brands – including swanky steakhouse Meat & Wine Co, popular burger eatery Five Guys and Ribs & Burgers – will have outposts open throughout the year and in time for Coldplay’s concerts in November.

Five Guys’ debut at Accor will be the first time it operates in a stadium anywhere in the world. Picture: Jonathan Ng

At Accor Stadium, two terraces will be transformed into “event day destinations”, with Ribs & Burgers and award-winning Lebanese restaurant Al Aseel reimagining these spaces, serving a mix of their favourite dishes in the stadium setting for the first time.

For selected major events, Crown Sydney will offer Nobu for corporate hospitality packages but other offerings are available to all spectators, including Five Guys which is the first time it will operate in a stadium anywhere in the word.

Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger welcomed the catering boost.

“I think it’s great they’ve been freshening up the food offerings using some local stars – and I think El Jannah is the greatest export from Granville since Paul Hogan,’’ he said.

Gema Group managing director Paul Valenti said the best of western Sydney’s diverse food and wine culture would be brought to the premier venues.

“We look forward to giving the millions of people who attend sporting and entertainment events the ultimate taste of Sydney,’’ he said.

Parra fans and their rivals can all support the food choices coming to CommBank Stadium. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Other stadium classics such as hot dogs, pies and nachos will be “reimagined”, while food trucks and carts will also operate for special events.

As part of a major Event Chef Series, Accor Stadium will see Spanish-Australian chef Miguel Maestre, French-Australian chef and restaurateur Manu Feildel and award-winning pastry chef Anna Polyviou provide bespoke menus for major event and non-match day packages.

The culinary overhaul at the western Sydney stadiums follows the introduction of Justin Hemmes’ Merivale Group at Allianz Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground where Totti’s Pasta Bar, El Loco and Queen Chow give fans their fix of fancy footy tucker.