Press Room

Veteran stadium chef and food entrepreneur will oversee significant dining enhancements for 49ers gamedays and events

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The San Francisco 49ers and Levy embarked on an expansive partnership at Levi’s Stadium in February, with a focus on enhanced hospitality and Bay Area flavors. Today, they announced that Jon Severson will lead the stadium’s culinary direction as senior executive chef. He will oversee all facets of menu development and dining operations across the stadium, from concourse concessions to clubs and suites, as well as catering non-gameday events and spaces.

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Severson has served fans at many of the country’s top entertainment venues and world-class restaurants. He spent the past few years leading Seattle-based food startup The Skillet Group with acclaimed chef Josh Henderson.

“The Levy team is putting together a skilled culinary team here at Levi’s Stadium and we feel like we just signed the quarterback of our kitchen with the addition of an accomplished chef like Jon,” said Al Guido, 49ers President. “His broad experience, not just at major sporting venues but also in developing new restaurant concepts, make him uniquely qualified for how we want to enhance the food and beverage experience for guests at Levi’s Stadium.”

“Bringing the Bay Area’s vibrant flavors and hospitality to life for fans and guests starts with leadership and vision in the kitchen,” said Andy Lansing, President and CEO of Levy. “Jon started his career with us more than 20 years ago, and I‘ve been a big fan of his since. We’re thrilled to have him re-join our family. Both fans and team members will feel his presence from the start.”

“It’s impossible not to be inspired by the incredible culinary scene in the Bay Area, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to bring the best flavors of the region to Levi’s Stadium,” said Chef Severson. “The San Francisco 49ers organization is fortunate to have truly incredible fans, and we’re going to match their dedication with an equally ambitious approach to dining.”

Prior to his time at The Skillet Group, Severson spent nearly 20 years in senior culinary positions at top NFL, NBA and NHL venues across the Midwest and West Coast. He began his career at Chicago’s famed Spiaggia, known for its acclaimed chefs, including Tony Mantuano and recent Top Chef winner Joe Flamm.

One of Severson’s first charges will be selecting from the Bay Area’s wealth of culinary talent to build out the growing Levi’s Stadium hospitality team. Those interested in applying can contact HRSanFranBay@levyrestaurants.com or visit www.WorkAtLevy.com. Levy will welcome all applicants and is required by contract and by the City of Santa Clara worker retention ordinance to hire existing employees.

About Levy
The disruptor in defining the premium sports and entertainment dining experience, Levy is recognized as one of the fastest growing and most critically acclaimed hospitality companies. Named one of the 10 most innovative companies in sports by Fast Company magazine, Levy’s diverse portfolio includes award-winning restaurants, iconic sports and entertainment venues, and convention centers as well as the Super Bowl, Grammy Awards, PGA Championship, US Open Tennis Tournament, Kentucky Derby, and NHL, MLB, NBA All-Star Games. For more, visit www.levyrestaurants.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

About the San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers, owned by Denise and John York, currently play in the NFC West division and have won five Super Bowl trophies including Super Bowl XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV and XXIX. The franchise also has six conference championships and 19 divisional championships and was the first major league professional sports team to be based in San Francisco more than 70 years ago. Please visit www.49ers.com and follow the 49ers on Facebook and Twitter @49ers.

About Levi’s® Stadium
Named Sports Facility of the Year for 2015 by Sports Business Journal, Levi’s Stadium is home to the San Francisco 49ers and serves as the world’s most technologically advanced and sustainable sports and entertainment venue. The $1.2 billion venue consists of 1.85 million square feet and 68,500 seats, including 174 luxury suites and 9,000 club seats, and was designed by HNTB and built by Turner/Devcon for the Santa Clara Stadium Authority. It is a multi-purpose facility with flexibility that has allowed it to host a wide range of events – including international soccer, college football, ice hockey, motorsports, concerts and various civic events – since opening in 2014. The venue is also expandable for major events such as WrestleMania 31, Super Bowl 50 and the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Levi's Stadium is owned by the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, a public joint powers authority established to provide for development and operation of Levi's Stadium to ensure the stadium serves the goals of the City of Santa Clara. For more information, go to www.LevisStadium.com.