If you think all a sports arena has to offer is nachos with processed cheese, think again.

Variety will be the cornerstone of the new JQH Arena.

"We put a ton of time and effort into this and we are really hoping to retrain the thoughts of the patrons ... to know they can come and get a great meal and high-quality product served hot and fresh," said Bob Newell, general manager for Ovations Food Services, which handles the catering and concessions.

David and Lisa McQueary sampled the fare during the Eagles concert.

"Wow," said Lisa McQueary, adding that it far exceeded her expectations.

The McQuearys are suite holders. Suite holders and club members may order wine and beer, but the general public may not order alcohol at university events. However, Newell may sell alcohol to the public at non-university events, like the Eagles concert.

In terms of food, there are a variety of concession stands, and Ovations operates all of them except Domino's Pizza.

Here's what the general public can expect:

- Hiland Dairy Dipping Den will offer ice cream in a cup. There are 10 ice cream options: six regular flavors, two sugar-free and two fat-free choices.

- There's The Q, a barbecue joint offering a pulled-pork sandwich platter, brisket, Carolina pulled pork and barbecue nachos.

- At Tamales, you'll find offerings such as chicken or steak burritos, nachos, and chips and queso.

- If you're craving a specialty burger, stop at Black Angus, which offers a bacon cheddar burger, a black and blue burger and more.

- Now, if it's not a game without a hot dog, then hit Hot Dog Nation where, among other things, you'll find specialty dogs, including a Chicago dog, a Coney Island dog with chili, and a Springfield dog -- a hot dog wrapped in bacon.

"We just thought it would be fun," Newell said with a chuckle. "Myself and the operations manager were going through this menu and wanted to do something to honor Springfield. And who doesn't like bacon?"

- If you love traditional fare -- nachos, pretzels, chicken tenders, popcorn -- don't worry. You'll be able to find that at the Bears and Legacy grills. Specialty concession stands, like Tamales, also will stock traditional treats.

- If you have a hankering for coffee, pop into Starbucks.

If you need to visualize what your food will look like, then look toward the menu boards where there are televisions flashing photos of the food.

If you're a suite holder or club member, you can expect in-seat service and food prepared by a professional chef. Offerings for those members include fruit platters, cheese trays, sandwiches and a buffet with carved meats, Asian and other choices.

At the Eagles concert, the service and presentation were excellent, said David McQueary.

"If you happen to run out, they make every effort to bring in more," he said.

What will you pay?

Here's a sample of some of the food and prices you'll find in the JQH Arena.

- At The Q barbecue stand, a brisket sandwich platter is $7. Platters are served with french fries.

- At Black Angus, a Boomer burger platter is $6.

- At Tamales, an overstuffed burrito with chicken or steak is $7.

- At Hot Dog Nation, a Chicago-style dog with chips is $6.

- At the Highland Dairy stand, everything is $3. It's a one-size serving.