Broncos fans headed to Empower Field at Mile High this season will find a new concourse spectacle waiting for them: a two-foot hot dog wrapped in puff pastry and piled with barbecue brisket burnt ends, goat cheese, and avocado crema. The item, dubbed the Beast in a Blanket, is being billed as an over-the-top spin on the classic pig in a blanket, big enough to eat solo or split among a family.
The dish is presented by Aramark Sports + Entertainment, the stadium's concessions operator, and will be available in Section 128 throughout the 2026 NFL season, according to KDVR. The build starts with a two-foot grilled hot dog and puff pastry, then gets stacked with jalapeño slices, sharp cheddar, and crispy onions before getting finished with Mile High secret sauce. It's a clear departure from the traditional meat-and-pastry combination, leaning instead into a loaded, multi-topping showpiece meant for sharing — or bragging rights.
Aramark executive sous chef Sean Clark described the item in a press release as an over-the-top take on the classic pig in a blanket snack, saying the company wanted to create an ultimate and shareable game-day item. Empower Field's own food guide lists the Beast in a Blanket as available in concourse sections 119 and 128, giving fans two spots to track it down.
A Pattern of Viral Stadium Food
The Beast in a Blanket isn't Aramark's first attempt at a shareable, photo-ready menu item at Empower Field. Last year, the company introduced the Jackalope Mac Stack, a dish that paired smoked antelope, rabbit and pork sausage with green chili mac and cheese and Flamin' Hot Cheetos dust, as reported by Forbes. That multi-meat mashup fit a broader pattern of Aramark rolling out novelty dishes designed to travel well on social media.
Forbes notes that Aramark Sports + Entertainment manages dining operations across 10 NFL venues, and the company has leaned into experimental foods elsewhere too — including an Uncrustables Crunch chicken sandwich served in Kansas City alongside Denver's giant hot dog. The strategy places Empower Field's concourse squarely within a nationwide trend of stadium caterers competing for attention with unconventional food combinations.
Local Flavor Alongside National Novelty
The stadium's vendor lineup isn't only about extreme portions. Empower Field's concourses also host recognized Denver culinary names, including Michelin Bib Gourmand winner MAKfam, Food Network award-winner Mukja food truck, and Italian restaurant Coperta, according to the venue's official food guide. For the 2025 season, the stadium also opened Atwater Grill near Section 100, a concession stand created to honor Broncos Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Steve Atwater, per Denver Westword.
Fans on a budget still have options beyond the headline-grabbing novelty items. The stadium's Mile High Favs menu offers staples like hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, soft drinks and hot chocolate for $5 each, or $4 for Broncos Plus members, according to 9News. The pairing of a premium showpiece dish with a budget-friendly value menu reflects Aramark's effort to serve both big spenders and families watching their wallets on game day.
Cashless Checkout and High-Volume Crowds
Buying the Beast in a Blanket — or anything else at Empower Field — means leaving cash at home. The stadium operates as a fully cashless facility requiring cards or mobile payments, though it does provide reverse ATMs that convert cash into fee-free prepaid cards for concessions purchases. Over 35% of the stadium's concession locations now use automated service technology, including AI-powered Mashgin checkout scanners, Tapin2 self-order kiosks, and autonomous Walk Thru Bru markets, a setup designed to keep lines moving during high-volume stretches like halftime.
That infrastructure has to handle more than just nine annual Broncos home games. Empower Field also hosts major non-football events, including an April MLS showdown between the Colorado Rapids and Inter Miami that drew over 60,000 spectators, as per Hoodline. The stadium is owned by the Metropolitan Football Stadium District, a state-created political subdivision, and is managed day-to-day by Stadium Management Company LLC, a subsidiary of the Denver Broncos.
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