This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Avid Brigham Young University fans soon will be able to enjoy a whole new football bowl experience.
A Lindon-based company, Stadium Bowls, has developed a reusable food bowl in the shape and image of LaVell Edwards Stadium.
The bowls will be available for the first time at the BYU vs. Texas game that will be played in Provo on Saturday. They will be sold with 5 ounces of Dippin' Dots ice cream. Although fans will have to pay a little extra to get their treat in a LaVell Edwards Stadium bowl — $8 instead of the $4.50 normal price — once emptied, the bowls can be taken home as a game-day souvenir or put into everyday use.
"We're excited because Saturday will be the first real marketing test of our product," said Matthew Lee, who along with partner Adam Keys founded Stadium Bowls. "We've worked for the past two years researching and developing a bowl that we think will be popular with fans."
The bowls, which are hand washable, are made of recyclable plastic and are created using a state-of-the-art inkjet printer, Lee said, noting they can be produced in the form of any stadium or arena. He said the company also is producing bowls for the University of Cincinnati in the shape of Nippert Stadium, where the Bearcats play.
"We've been talking with a number of other schools, including the University of Utah and Louisiana State University but have yet to strike a deal with any of them," he added.
Aaron Black, general manager of concessions at BYU, said he thinks the product will do well.
"What I've found impressive is that they have been able to provide a product at a price point that should be reasonable for fans. And the detail on each bowl is really striking, right down to the scoreboard and press box," Black said.
While only Dippin' Dots in a 5-ounce bowl will be available on Saturday, there will be 14-ounce bowls offered with nachos at the upcoming game against the University of Utah, he said.
Black added that an order of nachos that ordinarily would sell for $4 will go for $8 in a souvenir stadium bowl. But fans will also get more nachos and cheese (in a stadium bowl) than they would otherwise, he said.
Lee said he and Keys have looked at the possibility of selling the bowls through retail outlets but for now the volume wouldn't be there to make it worthwhile. "But we are thinking about making them available in a picnic or tailgate pack, maybe something with napkins and cups."
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