The companies will take precautions to prevent players from contracting COVID-19.
(Sean P. Means | The Salt Lake Tribune) Karabo Poppy’s Utah Jazz mural is on the side of Valter’s Osteria, 173 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City. The restaurant is one of three that the NBA has approved for visiting teams to eat safely with this season.
NBA teams traveling to Salt Lake City this season to tackle the Utah Jazz cannot eat at any restaurant in Utah.
The league has partnered with the players’ association to compile a list of at least three approved restaurants in each NBA city as a way to prevent players from contracting the coronavirus during the 2020-21 season, which is currently underway. .
Restaurants that appear on the list in Salt Lake City are Red Iguana, Manoli’s and Valter’s Osteria – all located near the center of Vivint Smart Home Arena and restaurants that players have visited in the past.
Valter’s Italian restaurant even has a giant Jazz-themed mural on the outside wall of the building’s west side.
The Red Iguana, known for its “killer” Mexican food, used to be a popular eatery for bands and musicians, but NBA players are also regular, said owner Lucy Cardenas. “We have had a history of feeding the teams and are happy and humble that they love us and want to come and eat with us.”
This is especially the case during the pandemic, she added when the seats were reduced by almost 50% to ensure proper social distance.
Manoli Katsanevas said that many of the international players of the Jazz – in the past and present – regularly went to eat in his Greek restaurant.
Boris Diaw started coming a few years ago, and then brought along Rudy Gobert and Ricky Rubio.
Katsanevas said his restaurant has also catered team meals several times.
“We’ve been feeding them for a while,” he said. To be organic for the NBA list.
In addition to distributed tables and other health protocols, restaurant employees must wear masks and face shields when serving the NBA teams, Katsanevas said. The restaurant should also limit the number of employees who are with the team members, and it should have a separate entrance and exit to limit exposure to restaurant staff and other meals.
Katsanevas understands the need for additional protocols, “he said millions of dollars are at stake.”
And what about when teams are home?
According to NBA guidelines, staff are prohibited from attending bars, lounges or clubs, attending live entertainment or sporting events, using gyms, spas or swimming pools, or attending social events with more than 15 people.