A trip to the footy in Sydney’s west might soon include a plate of black cod miso from glamour restaurant import Nobu or a serve of the charcoal chicken from El Jannah, after the family-owned Gema Group landed the tender for Homebush’s Accor Stadium and Parramatta’s Commbank Stadium from early 2024.

Gema Group managing director, Paul Valenti, says along with special appearances by Nobu, the company deliberately targeted the best of the west in their bid.

Al Aseel, the Lebanese eatery that started in Greenacre, will have casual dining outlets at both stadiums. Cabramatta-born Sushi Hub is also involved, as is US burger chain Five Guys, which opened its first Australian store in Penrith in 2021.

“We wanted a premium offering at special events, so that might be a Nobu menu in a suite at Accor stadium or a menu there as part of our event chef series. Celebrity chefs Miguel Maestre and Manu Feildel and pastry chef Anna Polyviou are all on board,” Valenti says.

For special events at Accor Stadium, the group will work with Crown Sydney to create a “premium hospitality experience” with Nobu, the high-end Japanese restaurant located at Crown.

Until a couple of years ago, the Sydney stadium dining scene felt as stale as a week-old sausage roll. But that all changed in 2021, when Merivale picked up the contract for the Sydney Cricket Ground and Allianz Stadium next door. Overnight, you could tuck in at Totti’s Pasta Bar, or smear housemade chutney rather than industrial tomato sauce.

“Back in the day stadiums were set up differently, you could only provide a pie and beer,” Valenti explains. With purpose-built kitchens and designer corporate entertaining areas now standard, the industry Valenti’s father Matthew stumbled into 39-years ago is vastly different.

“He had a restaurant in Parramatta, he was asked to cater an event for the NSW Rugby League at Sydney Showground,” Valenti says of the birth of the business. Spotting a niche, Matthew Valenti edged into catering at smaller venues, and eventually motorsport events.

Venues NSW CEO Kerrie Mather says: “We will be giving fans the ultimate choice of cuisine; reflecting the diverse communities who attend our events and Sydney’s richness of culture.”

Gema Group will take the food reins at the Accor and Commbank Stadiums in early January.