WASHINGTON, DC, June 27, 2008 – In anticipation of July’s National Hot Dog Month, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) released new national poll data confirming the strong “link” between hot dogs and sports, most notably, baseball.
According to the poll, hot dogs once again dominated fans’ favorite stadium fare. Approximately 63 percent of fans listed hot dogs as the one ballpark food they could not live without. Peanuts ranked a distant second with 18 percent, followed by pizza, cotton candy and,finally, cracker jacks
An astounding 88 percent of those polled said they have eaten or will eat a hot dog at a sporting event this year.
The Chicago and New York hot dog rivalry only intensified as Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium tied as home of the best stadium hot dog. Boston’s legendary Fenway Park came in second, Detroit’s Comerica Park took third and Dodger’s Stadium in Los Angeles ranked fourth
When it comes to players who can put the dogs away, Babe Ruth was voted the current or former most likely to win a hot dog eating contest. The Great Bambino crushed the competition and won handily with 42 percent of the vote, with former player John Kruk (17 percent) and former player and manager Tommy LaSorda (15 percent) finishing second and third, respectively. David Oritz of the Boston Red Sox, Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers, and former player Roger Clemens rounded out the top six, respectively. Interestingly enough, Prince Fielder, a self-proclaimed vegetarian, took in 8 percent of the vote.
Legend has it the Babe gorged himself on a dozen to eighteen hot dogs before blacking out on a train ride in April of 1925.
The Council estimates Americans eat seven billion hot dogs during peak season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. That's 818 hot dogs per second. Much of that consumption occurs at various sporting events. Research from the Council’s annual MLB ballpark survey released on Opening Day shows that professional ballparks alone will sell 30 million hot dogs this season. That’s enough to round the bases 41,667 times – enough to stretch from Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. to AT&T Park in San Francisco.For comparison, over seven home football games last season,
For comparison, over seven home football games last season, The University of Notre Dame sold 92,841 hot dogs – for an average of 13,263 per game. During their biggest game against University of Southern California (USC) 14,888 hot dogs were sold. That’s comparable to the 15,000 sold on opening day at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia … but keep in mind Citizen’s Bank Park holds 43,500 fans, and Notre Dame Stadium 80,795!
The people who sell hot dogs to hungry fans shouldn’t be overlooked, especially the ones who walk up and down the aisles. Hot dog vendors walk an average of four to five miles per game, up and down stairs, carrying their roughly 40-pound bin. They work on commission and tips, so they move fast. An average baseball hot dog vendor sells approximately 150 hot dogs per game and 10,000 to 12,000 hot dogs per season.
Whether you’re enjoying a hot dog at a MLB ballpark, a Little League game, or just playing Wiffle ball in your backyard, National Hot Dog and Sausage Council spokesman Tom Super wants you to remember the cardinal rule: “Never put ketchup on your hot dog over the age of 18. In fact, legend has it that within the city limits of Chicago, you could be arrested for such an offense.”
Polling was done by Opinion Dynamics 625 Americans June 11, 2008- June 15, 2008
For additional information, contact us or visit the Council online at http://www.hotdog. 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.
