--- title: "Checkers & Rally’s Scores Big with New Concession Opening at Benchmark International Arena" url: https://burnaze.com/article/9512776c-2a5c-445a-895d-e291a14ab78f source: "Franchising.com" original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20251217_checkers__rallys_scores_big_with_new_concession_opening_at_benchmark_intern.html category: "Burger" industry: "Restaurants" segment: "Burger" topics: ["Development & multi-unit"] published: 2025-12-17T12:00:00.000Z modified: 2026-10-31T17:27:59.900Z image: https://imgs.franchising.com/brands/social/checkersdriveinresta.jpg --- # Checkers & Rally’s Scores Big with New Concession Opening at Benchmark International Arena **TL;DR:** Checkers & Rally’s has opened a new concession stand at the Benchmark International Arena, offering its menu items to sports and entertainment enthusiasts. The brand is expanding its franchise footprint with this non-traditional location, targeting select markets throughout the United States. *originally published in Franchising.com on 2025-12-17. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20251217_checkers__rallys_scores_big_with_new_concession_opening_at_benchmark_intern.html).* ## Story The concession stand will bring Checkers & Rally’s fan-favorite menu items to sports and entertainment enthusiasts. Following recent non-traditional openings at Raymond James Stadium and the Kia Center, this location highlights the brand’s continued growth in high-traffic venues while supporting the development of the brand’s standard restaurant prototype. Fans can enjoy a streamlined menu featuring the Big Buford, cheeseburgers, classic Cluck Chicken Sandwich, Famous Seasoned Fries, and apple pies, with special promotions available through the Checkers & Rally’s app. “We’re thrilled to bring Checkers & Rally’s to Benchmark Arena, right in the heart of the action with the Tampa Bay Lightning,” said Robert Bhagwandat, Senior Director of Franchise Development at Checkers Drive-In Restaurants. “This new concession stand continues our push into non-traditional locations, giving fans convenient access to our bold, crave-worthy menu during games and events. We look forward to becoming a go-to destination for sports and entertainment enthusiasts, while delivering the same experience that guests have come to expect from Checkers & Rally’s.” Checkers & Rally’s is expanding its franchise footprint with the new Benchmark Arena location, bringing fearlessly original flavors and legendary taste to fans in a high-energy venue. This move delivers undeniable value for both guests and franchise partners, while showcasing the brand’s game-changing innovation in quick-service dining. Merged in 1999 to form one concept, Checkers & Rally’s primarily operates through a proven franchise model, in which owners benefit from brand recognition, operational support, and marketing resources. Potential franchise prospects can develop on less than half an acre, which is half the size of competing drive-thru concepts. Checkers & Rally’s current strategy is targeting select markets throughout the United States, particularly in South and Central Wisconsin, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Southern California, Las Vegas, Florida, and South Carolina. Based in Tampa, Fla., Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., an iconic and innovative drive-thru restaurant chain known for its bold, craveable food, famous fries, exceptional value, and people-first attitude, operates and franchises both Checkers® and Rally's® restaurants. With over 700 restaurants and room to grow, Checkers & Rally's is a proven brand with flexible building formats that is aggressively expanding across the country. Checkers & Rally's is dedicated to being a place where franchisees and employees who work hard can create opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities. In recent years, the brand has earned several of the industry's most prestigious awards, including Franchise Times Top 500, Entrepreneur Top 500, Franchise Business Review’s Top Franchises, Franchise Rock Star, and “Most Profitable Franchises” in 2024. The brand also earned recognition for its best-in-class training and education programs, winning four prestigious Brand Hall Group awards in 2024, and was named one of QSR’s Best Brands to Work For in 2025. Checkers Drive-In restaurant franchises are small but efficient making our restaurants easy to operate and typically reduced overhead costs. ## Entities - Franchising.com (publication) - QSR (sector) - franchise expansion (topic) - brand growth (topic) - Checkers (company) - menu items (topic) - non-traditional locations (topic) - Checkers & Rally's (company) - Robert Bhagwandat (person) - Tampa Bay Lightning (company) - Benchmark International Arena (location) - concession opening (topic) --- Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20251217_checkers__rallys_scores_big_with_new_concession_opening_at_benchmark_intern.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/9512776c-2a5c-445a-895d-e291a14ab78f).