Look for the Red Baron banner to fly even higher in Marshall, Minnesota in 2016. The City Government and the Southwest Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission announced on September 14 that the arena and exposition center that will be a cornerstone facility of the Marshall Amateur Regional Sports Hub (MARSH) and The Schwan Regional Amateur Sports Center will be named the Red Baron Arena & Expo.
Red Baron pizza, a frozen food brand recognized throughout the United States, is made and marketed by subsidiaries of The Schwan Food Company, longtime supporters of sports events and facilities – particularity hockey venues – in Minnesota. Founded in Marshall in 1952, the company has been a longtime supporter of the local community through charitable giving and youth athletics funding and promotion.
“Our heritage is rooted in Marshall, Minnesota, so it’s an honor for us to have our iconic Red Baron pizza brand associated with this outstanding arena. It has been inspiring to see the community rally together and show its commitment to youth athletics by bringing this facility to life,” said Dimitrios Smyrnios, chief executive officer of The Schwan Food Company. “We’re extremely excited about this partnership and look forward to working with the City of Marshall and the Southwest Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission to help make Marshall a destination for youth sports enthusiasts throughout the Upper Midwest.”
The Schwan Food Company donated more than 29 acres of property to the City of Marshall to support the MARSH facilities and infrastructure. It also sold approximately 14 acres of land to the city at a discounted market rate for the development of four softball and youth baseball fields within the Hub.
The Red Baron Arena & Expo, which will feature two sheets of ice and an exposition center, is under construction and expected to be completed by May of 2016. The facility is the centerpiece of The Schwan Regional Amateur Sports Center and will be a part of the MARSH, which will include more than three dozen city, school and college sporting facilities in Marshall.
“Marshall is the premiere destination for amateur sports and events in the region and adding a nationally-recognized brand like Red Baron to our new arena and expo further bolsters our reputation,” said Darin Rahm, Director of the Marshall Convention & Visitors Bureau. “With partners such as The Schwan Food Company, we are working hard to attract even more attention to what Marshall has to offer in a way that benefits our residents, businesses and municipal future.”
A marketing campaign for the MARSH, which includes the new Red Baron Arena & Expo, will be launched this fall to target event organizers, sports associations and trade associations with an invitation to come experience Marshall for their next event.
“We are serious about securing more events in the Marshall area and this coordinated effort that maximizes and utilizes multiple facilities will provide event organizers and sports associations a one-stop location for events,” said Rahm. “The new MARSH name and logo helps bring this effort together in an exciting, highly marketable way.”
About the Company
The Schwan Food Company is a privately held, multibillion-dollar business that manufactures and markets frozen foods through home delivery, retail grocery and foodservice channels. In addition to Schwan’s and Red Baron, its brands include Tony’s, Bon Appétit and Freschetta pizzas, Mrs. Smith’s and Edwards desserts, Pagoda specialties and Larry’s potatoes. The company’s subsidiaries employ nearly 14,000 people across the USA.
