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Spectrum Center ranked worst for food violations among sports venues

Kent Smith / National Basketball Association / Getty

A new report may make fans think twice before ordering food at Charlotte Hornets games.

ESPN's Outside The Lines scoured more than 16,000 food-safety reports for the 111 professional basketball, football, baseball, and hockey venues across North America in 2016 and 2017. According to its findings, Charlotte's Spectrum Center had the highest percentage of food vendors with high-level violations (92 percent).

Among the issues reported by inspectors at Spectrum Center was beer leaking from the ceiling of the Front Court Restaurant and Bar and "a consistent failure to properly" document when food should be cooked, served, or thrown away.

The Palace of Auburn Hills, formerly home to the Detroit Pistons, was the second-worst offender at 86.11 percent.

Outside The Lines notes that while high-level violations don't necessarily mean a venue is unsafe or unsanitary, there are unique risks associated with stadium environments because of the large number of people being served in a short period of time.

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