Rudolph Bell

dbell@greenvillenews.com

The chief executive of the company that provides concessions services to Greenville's sports and entertainment arena has been disciplined by his board after being accused of abusing a dog.

An elevator security camera in Vancouver, Canada, recorded a man kicking a Doberman pinscher puppy and using a leash to jerk it around, and news media identified the man as Des Hague, CEO of Centerplate Inc.

After the security video was posted on the Internet, Hague found himself at the center of a public relations firestorm.

In markets around the country and in Canada where Centerplate manages concessions at arenas and stadiums, fans said on social media they wouldn't buy food or drink during games or concerts until he was fired.

Wednesday, the Centerplate board announced that it had put Hague on probation after a review and required him to donate $100,000 to a foundation that would support the protection and safety of animals in Vancouver.

The foundation will be called the Sade Foundation in honor of the dog that was kicked, according to the board's statement.

Stamford, Connecticut-based Centerplate has strong connections to the Upstate beyond the fact that it manages concessions at Greenville's Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

The company operates a hospitality service center at the Independence Pointe office park at the intersection of interstates 385 and 85 in Greenville that employs more than 60 people, according to a phone directory in the lobby.

Centerplate managed what is now the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, as well as provided concessions, from its founding in 1998 until 2010, said Roger Newton, manager of the arena and a former Centerplate employee. Centerplate used to be called Volume Services and was based in Spartanburg, Newton recalled.

In San Francisco, where Centerplate is a vendor at Levi's Stadium, home of the 49ers football team, an outcry from fans prompted the team to issue a statement condemning the event.

In Greenville, however, Newton said he had not heard any complaints.

In Columbia, where Centerplate manages concessions at Colonial Life Arena, a man asked arena management in a Tweet: "have y'all ditched @centerplate." Abey Foster, marketing director at Colonial Life Arena, said she had not heard of any complaints outside of Twitter.

Centerplate board members also said in their statement they were requiring Hague to give 1,000 hours of community service to an organization that protects the welfare and safety of animals.