The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Sodexo Live! unveils new food, beverage and fan experiences for the 2026 Football season
08.21.2026 | Texas Athletics
Expanded celebrity guest chef lineup, new Texas-inspired concessions, signature cocktails and fan-first technology updates headline the season.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Football is back, and this season Longhorns fans will have even more to savor on gameday. Sodexo Live!, the food and beverage hospitality provider for Texas Athletics, is unveiling an enhanced lineup of experiences at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, highlighted by an expanded celebrity guest chef program, new concessions and cocktails, and technology designed to make gameday even more seamless.
"There's nothing quite like gameday at DKR, and our goal is to make the hospitality as memorable as everything happening on the field," said Christopher Reynolds, District Manager, Sodexo Live!. "We're thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Texas Athletics to continue building upon what is the nation's best gameday experience. From new flavors and expanded choices to technology that makes it easier for fans to find what they're looking for, our focus is simply on making the experience better every year."
Heading into its second year, the celebrity guest chef program will feature signature bites in premium spaces from Andrew Zimmern, Christian Petroni, Antonia Lofaso, Marc Murphy, Aaron May and more. The chefs will also make appearances at The University of Texas Tito's Club on the evening prior to home games, giving club members a unique opportunity to meet the culinary personalities behind the menu.
Concessions highlights include the return of the Fan First Menu for the ninth consecutive season, providing an average savings of 30% on core gameday staples. Fans can take advantage of prices that have remained unchanged since the program began, including $3 bottled Dasani water, candy and popcorn, $4 hot dogs and peanuts, and $5 nachos and bottled Coca-Cola products.
Fans will also find several new additions throughout the stadium's general seating areas, including Footlong Brisket Nacho Dogs, Big Tex Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs, Cake Cups and Dirty Sodas (soft drinks mixed with flavored syrups and cream). The stadium's acclaimed craft cocktail program returns with new creations featuring Texas Athletics' new partner, Verdadero Tequila, alongside fan favorites made with Tito's Handmade Vodka and Bulleit Bourbon.
An Austin original and the centerpiece of the longest-running collegiate drinkware program, YETI returns with five new collectible designs rolling out throughout the season. The collection begins September 5th with the debut of two-color cups featuring classic burnt orange and white, a first in the collegiate space. Fans can also look forward to limited-edition vintage, pink, Halloween and Salute to Service designs later in the season.
Beyond what's on the menu, new technology will make navigating the stadium and grabbing game day favorites even easier. A new interactive digital map, available before the season opener, will allow fans to search for specific food and beverage selections and receive directions to the nearest location once inside the stadium.
The concourse is also expanding its use of Mashgin self-checkout technology to help fans move through concessions more quickly. With 16 additional units arriving this season, Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium will feature 105 Mashgin self-checkout units in total, the most of any collegiate stadium in the nation.
"Putting Texas fans first has been a central theme since Chris Del Conte arrived on the Forty Acres, and the team at Sodexo Live! has done an excellent job of keeping prices on core gameday items low for nine consecutive seasons," said Drew Martin, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director. "Beyond that value, they have continued to innovate with new food and beverage options in both general concessions and our premium clubs and suites, while introducing technologies like self-checkout that help fans spend less time in line and more time in their seats enjoying the Longhorns."
The collaboration between Sodexo Live! and Texas Athletics continues to reflect a shared commitment to elevating the gameday experience for Longhorns fans, season after season.
