Hot Dog Council Forecasts Another Grand Slam for Perennial Baseball Favorite

Hot Dogs To Be Consumed in Ballparks Would Round Bases 41,667 Times

WASHINGTON, March 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- While the starting lineups of many Major League baseball teams may have changed since the celebratory champagne was corked last season, one thing that remains steady is the unwavering popularity of hot dogs in our nation's ballparks.

The quintessential "Iron Man" of stadium snacks, the hot dog hit a home run in the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council's (NHDSC) annual survey of Major League stadiums again this year, with the NHDSC forecasting that ballparks around the country will consume more than 30 million hot dogs this season -- an impressive feat and enough to round the bases 41,776 times.

When it comes to individual stadiums, Shea Stadium, home of the New York Mets, topped the survey again this year for largest projected hot dog consumption in 2008. According to the survey, Mets fans will consume more than 2 million hot dogs this year. Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, is the runner up, with fans projected to consume more than 1.7 million hot dogs. Third place goes to Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, with approximately 1.5 million hot dogs expected to be consumed.

"There's no question that baseball and hot dogs hit a home run year after year," said Janet Riley, president of the Council. "Despite an increasingly diverse array of delicious ballpark foods, hot dogs are still the fan favorite across the board."

Stadiums around the country will offer a range of options to hungry fans. Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves, dresses their Georgia Dog with coleslaw, chili and onion relish. The Metrodome, stadium of the Minnesota Twins, is home to the Dome Dog, a black angus dog served hot off the grill with toppings made fresh daily. At Fenway Park, the famous Fenway Franks are either boiled or grilled, and served on a New England bun with mustard and relish. At Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, the Rockie Dog, a footlong with grilled peppers, kraut and onions is served and at U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, the Comiskey hot dog is king.

Other stadiums serve up locally-produced or preferred products - such as Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers, which offers crackblack pepper sausages and hotlinks, or Angel Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, which serves up Angelitos soft tacos and chili pepper burritos. At Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals, the team mascot "Slugger" shoots Schweigert hot dogs into the crowd during the seventh-inning stretch. The ever-popular Nathan's Hot Dogs are served up at Shea Stadium.

For those fans with big appetites, a number of ballparks offer special events like "dollar dog nights," where as many as 70,000 hot dogs are sold in one evening. The number of stadiums offering "all you can eat" seating is also increasing -- more good news for famished fans.

But the fun isn't just for grownups. Young fans, too, benefit from a number of special kid-friendly food offerings. A number of parks feature "Buckaroos Stands" offering assorted kid-size food and beverages, including hot dogs, nachos, and cotton candy. Other parks also offer kids meals, complete with a small hot dog, potato chips, soda and dessert.

"While we can't predict which team will come out on top at the end of the coming season, we can predict what will be the most popular ballpark food - and it's the hot dog, hands down," Riley said.

The Council estimates that overall, Americans consume approximately two billion hot dogs annually. For additional information, visit the Council online at http://www.hot-dog.org/.

Established in 1994, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council conducts scientific research to benefit hot dog and sausage manufacturers. The Council also serves as an information resource to consumers and media on issues related to quality, safety, nutrition and preparation of hot dogs and sausages.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: National Hot Dog and Sausage Council

CONTACT: Tonya Allen, tallen@meatami.com, +1-202-587-4221, or Janet
Riley, jriley@meatami.com, +1-202-587-4245, both of the National Hot Dog and
Sausage Council

Web Site: http://www.hot-dog.org/

2008-03-28 16:48:54 0322487 PRNEWSWIRE