Stadium Bar & Grill

Check out one of the county's most popular sports bar and grill, The Stadium of Guttenberg by Joleen Jansen

Rod McLane is a life long resident of Guttenberg and the proud owner of Guttenberg’s Stadium Bar and Grill. Rod graduated from Guttenberg High School in 1982. In 1985, three years after McLane’s graduation, his aunt and uncle Steve and Vicki McLane, established the Stadium on the east side of Hwy 52 South, in Guttenberg.

Upon the opening of the restaurant and sports bar, Rod began working for his aunt and uncle at the Stadium. He began work at the bar and grill as a dishwasher. Rod loved working at the Stadium so much; he has never left the operation. “I think it is the people. I feed off the idea of satisfying customers,” commented Rod.

The Stadium is a sports bar and restaurant, known for its good food and quick service. They serve a full breakfast every morning, offer great daily lunch specials, with a large variety of short order items, in addition to a complete, dinner menu. It is also a great watering hole for sports fans to enjoy broadcasted sporting events. Customers enjoy the Hawkeyes, the Vikings, or Packers, the Cubs and Nascar racing on the Stadium’s seven television sets.

Back in 1985, while his aunt, Judy Brandel served as the head cook at the Stadium, Rod learned how to cook. He remembers watching Judy and the other cooks run the kitchen. He immediately developed an appreciation for the real craft involved with cooking. He became anxious to try his hand at it and recalls being a little nervous is his first days as head cook. “I remember when my uncle Steve wanted to start serving steaks. I was really nervous to fix a steak,” chucked Rod, “now I fix how many flame grilled steaks a day.”

Today, McLane is passionate about cooking. He is a big fan of the food network and admits his favorite is Emeril Lagasse. “I know this is a meat and potato area, but I like to try different things. I will try any new idea.” He is about to break out a new menu, which includes a few new dishes and sandwiches like Rod’s Reuben, a crowd favorite, grilled pork tenderloins, and smoked pork chops. Rod says, “ I am really excited for the new menu to come out.” He describes it as a more “hip and with it” menu.

Rod McLane is one of these teddy bear guys. In getting to know him you quickly come to realize he is genuinely very nice and an enthusiastic person. He is a people pleaser, which perfectly complements his professional career. Over the years, he became a partner in ownership of the Stadium and last year he took over complete control. When it came to running the Stadium on his own he was very confident he would succeed. He works very hard, ten and twelve hour days, six and seven days a week. McLane constantly assesses the business making improvements wherever necessary. For example, he just completed a large remodel project. “We have a large rear parking area and had no rear access to the restaurant.” So his father Ron McLane and friends began on a rear entrance to the building and at the same time constructed a private dining area that will seat up to sixty- five customers.

Situated on Hwy 52 in Guttenberg, the Stadium Bar and Grill, serves plenty of traveling guests including quite a substantial part of the river crowd. But being a resident of Guttenberg all of his life, has served Rod well in knowing the palate of his local clientele. Their homemade soups and hot beef and gravy every day are very popular. Rod’s mom, Marlene, among many duties, makes scrumptious homemade pie for the restaurant.

The Stadium is a very spacious eatery, seating up to ninety not even including the new addition. McLane is the head cook almost every day. The lunch crowd is always that, a crowd. This is largely because, after almost twenty years of service, customers have come to count on the Stadium’s trademark, quality food with quick service. “ I know people do not want to wait for their food,” remarks McLane. The wait staff is very well managed and often assists the undecided customer in ordering. In the evening the Stadium entertains a sizeable happy hour and dinner crowd.

The sports bar is also a great place for weekend entertainment and the place to go after the game. A couple times a month this is the place in Guttenberg where crowds dance the night away to DJ music. Rod also sponsors many softball, volleyball dart and basketball teams. He believes this is a great way to invest in the community he loves.

Rod is a “single and looking” guy but he really hopes to someday raise children in Guttenberg. The town’s success is important to him and he is a big part of it. He has quite a reputation in town as the town’s great cook and as the unofficial weather guy.

“Yeah, people always call me to see if it is going to storm.” Rod continues, “ Of course I don’t get paid when I am wrong but the meteorologists do.” He is a nut about the weather and is fascinated by storms. Of course he loves the movie “Twister” and would love to see a tornado someday.

This restaurant currently employs thirty people. Rod, always willing to partner with the community, has linked with Unlimited Services in Guttenberg. Through this connection he employs disabled residents. He says, “This is a very rewarding and successful strategy to better serve our customers.”

The new owner of The Stadium does not rest. He is very grateful for his local and loyal customers but is always hoping to expand his customer base. He says, ”I am intrigued by new faces and love to make good food for them.”


Joleen’s Final Review: The Stadium is a fun sports bar and grill. They are really known for great service. Customers are acknowledged immediately upon walking in the door and the wait staff works hard get everyone quickly seated. Patrons will have no problem finding something appealing from the expansive but well-priced menu. I think Rod’s experience leads to high customer satisfaction. McLane knows how to cook, knows how to please customers and knows how to run a business.