Thank you for checking into the Catering and Events services of The Varsity Theater and our sister venue The Loring Pasta Bar, who have teamed together to build one of the most dynamic events facilities in the Midwest, and perhaps the nation. If you are a not-for-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization The Varsity is an especially unique alternative to the stuffy sites that are so often, so yesterday. From board meetings to silent auctions to gala benefits, The Varsity puts the fun back into FUN-draising.

Let us put Your Great Cause up in lights on the Varsity Theater’s historic Marquee!

Thanks for finding us!

- Jason McLean and The Varsity Events Team

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CAPACITY: The Varsity Theater's 10,000 square feet can accommodate 125 - 300 guests for dinner, up to 550 in theater presentation style seating, and up to 600 in cocktail/hors d'oeuvres reception format.

COSTS:

 

Please note that for these rates your organization will need to provide documentation that it is a legally recognized non-for-profit organization.

To check out a slide show of The Varsity as it completes its million-dollar makeover, please click here.

Life is full enough of uncertainty...
If you are like us, you want to know up front what the cost will be. As you can see, we publish the close estimate of costs for an event with The Varsity. We genuinely believe in being forthright in our pricing at all times, thus sparing any unpleasant surprises that usually arise. Even if “price is no object,” do yourself a favor by looking at what the Varsity can create for you.

While we do take pride in being a great value, we do not - for one moment - want anyone to think that compromises quality and finesse. Please click here to see the scores of great comments - all unsolicited - that we have received from our over-the-top satisfied clients.

Please continue reading for more detailed information and photos of the venue.  For more questions, or to schedule a tour, please send an e-mail to Loring Catering (at) msn (dot) com.

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DETAILS ON NON-PROFIT EVENTS AT THE VARSITY

The following information should answer most of your questions about having your event with us here at The Varsity. If you still have questions, please check out our Frequently Asked Questions section.

Please note that all terms & pricing are subject to change without notice.

 

ROOM RENTAL - We apply a room rental fee for Varsity events to cover all costs associated with our standard room set-up. Room rentals range between $750 and up; pending the set-up parameters for your event. We do NOT assess separate rental charges for tables, chairs, linens, candles, candleholders, etc. - ALL the accoutrements are INCLUDED in the room rental fee. Varsity Theater events are budgeted for 6 hours duration.

NOTE: Regarding Silent Auction Set-Up Needs - Additional manager coordination is sometimes necessary to facilitate auction set-up and pre-guest arrival readiness of the venue. Certain auction set-ups will require that a manager and sometimes two managers are on-hand for these set-up times, which will be billed separately at a rate of $25 per hour per manager.

FOOD PURCHASE MINIMUM - The Varsity Theater, and its exclusive caterer The Loring Pasta Bar, offer a wide range of food options for non-profit clients; from appetizer receptions at $15 per person (which are available on weeknights only), to buffet dinners at $35 per person, to plated dinners starting at $50 per person.  While we can do plated/sit down service (and are more than happy to cover that option and pricing with you), our menus are most often served as artistically composed buffets which are prepared in small batches and are constantly replenished. Because we base our catering buffet menus on the current menu of The Loring Pasta Bar, it's a snap for us to simply make more so that you won’t run out of food for your guests and there is no trucked-in compromise to quality and freshness!  For example menus, click here.

BEVERAGES - For non-profit events, we do require a beverage minimum of $2000.  Please be aware that unlike other venues we do not inflate our bar prices for catered events – our drink prices are the same for catered events as they are for our music shows – nor do we have a separate “bartender charge.”

SERVICE CHARGES - These cover the labor for the service staff for the event and are figured at a combined rate of 20% of the final food & hosted beverage purchase or $2,000 - whichever is greater. Our staff regularly goes above and beyond what normal event staffs do.  Like so many of our past satisfied guests, we think you'll see that it's more than fair. Traditional tipping is neither required nor expected; if you want to say an extra thanks for a job well done, that's your prerogative.

MANAGEMENT CHARGES - . The Management Fee is a flat $500 and covers the Normal Scope of Event Planning and Management on the day of Event . Unlike most event venues, where the venue contact is inactive at best or ignorant at worst, the Varsity event managers are an invaluable resource in guiding you to making decisions that will enhance your event at the Varsity.  Any supplementary Management attentions that exceed the Normal Scope of event planning will be subject to additional hourly rate billings of $25/hour.

 

TECHNICAL LABOR - The Varsity offers awesome theatrical dazzle with both conventional and computerized ‘intelligent’ moving lighting; digital concert sound, and 21st century digital and analog video capabilities. To ensure that you get the max out of our technically superior venue we require that one of our house technicians work the event. The rate is $25 per hour. Two (2) technicians are scheduled to support the lights and sound needs of live bands and/or more extensive multi-media presentations. Please note that the one of the value added benefits of booking your event into the Varsity is that the in-house technical team is more than capable of fulfilling the needs of seamless productions and presentations. While we certainly enjoy coordinating with outsourced production houses, and have done so often, remember that one of the coolest (and budget saving) benefits to booking the Varsity is our awesome team of technicians that will make you and your event come across with style and pizzazz!

ADDITIONAL SERVICES - These are additional services that we provide that you may be interested in including:

SALES TAXES - City & State sales taxes apply to all food, liquor, labor, and additional services.

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To receive a detailed and easy-to-decipher proposal of the estimated costs of your event, please send an e-mail to Loring Catering (at) msn (dot) com or call 612.378.4849 Monday-Friday 10am-4pm with the following information:

• Name
• Email
• Target date (and if there is any flexibility in the date)
• Approximate guest count
• Bar arrangement (Hosted? Cash Bar? Some combination?) and Bar budget
• Any ‘Extras’ listed in the section just above

 

BUT WAIT!  We want to make sure that you are fully aware of all the details of having your event with us.

Click here to  learn about the details of events at The Varsity. 

And if that doesn't answer all your questions, check out our Catering FAQ page.

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 Please click this link to be directed to a photo slideshow of

the Varsity Theater setup for a catered event.

 

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Photo Credits: Clark Patrick Photography, Todd O'Dowd

 

Previous Catering Clients Include

Corporate Clients Adobe Software Aveda / Estee Lauder Juut Salon Spa EQ Life Compass Media Red Bull North America Dow Jones Market Watch Halleland, Lewis, Nilson, Johnson City Pages The Rake Scion / Toyota Young President's Association Faegre & Benson Nike Skateboarding

Music Clients Universal Music Group Warner Bros./Elektra/Atlantic EMI/Virgin Records Afternoon Records Eclectone Records Cities 97 / Clear Channel KS95/Hubbard Broadcasting 89.3 The Current / MPR

Non-Profit Clients The University of Minnesota Mixed Blood Theater Company MN Women's Campaign Fund Outfront MN Citizens' League Carlson School of Management Weisman Arts Center mnartists.org Courage Center MN Ovarian Cancer Alliance Open Arms of Minnesota MN Fringe Festival Bell Museum of Natural History Concordia College MN Ovarian Cancer Alliance Diverse Emerging Music Organization (DEMO)