2018 FESTIVAL BROCHURE. Saturday, September 1st NOON - 9PM Sunday, September 2nd NOON - 7PM COCA-COLA FIELD DOWNTOWN BUFFALO, NY

Transcription

1 2018 FESTIVAL BROCHURE Saturday, September 1st NOON - 9PM Sunday, September 2nd NOON - 7PM COCA-COLA FIELD DOWNTOWN BUFFALO, NY

2 MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER THE NATIONAL BUFFALO WING FESTIVAL was inspired in 2001 by the movie Osmosis Jones. In the movie Bill Murray plays a fictitious character named Frank DeTorre who is a big junk food and wing addict. Frank s goal is to attend the National Chicken Wing Festival in Buffalo, NY. Buffalo News columnist, Donn Esmonde then wrote in a column that he was bewildered that Buffalo did not have such an event. That is when I decided to take on the challenge for my Hometown as well as my love for Buffalo Wings. In the inaugural year of 2002, the plan was set for an annual Labor Day Weekend event. 40,000 people filled Coca-Cola Field to consume over 20 tons of wings. AS WE ENTER INTO OUR SEVENTEENTH YEAR, the festival has been recognized as one of the best in the country by many publications, blogs and television shows. In 2017 the festival drew over 60,000 people. Over the last 16 years the festival has drawn over 935,000 people and served over 5 million wings. The festival which also supports local charities has donated over $345,000 since its inception. THE FESTIVAL HAS ALSO BECOME A GREAT TOURISM MAGNET for the Buffalo Region as wing lovers from all over America and the world make the annual pilgrimage to pay homage to the birthplace of the Buffalo Wing. Last year we found through on-site surveys that attendees came from all 50 states and over 36 different countries. The festival has had a great local economic impact. THE NATIONAL BUFFALO WING FESTIVAL has become the Super Bowl of the chicken wing industry for restaurants, wing lovers and even competitive eaters. The festival has been showcased by such national media as the Food Network, - All-American Festivals, Unwrapped, Throwdown with Bobby Flay, and Emeril Lagasse Live, the Travel Channel - Bar Food Paradise, Taste of America, and Food Wars, NBC s Today Show, ABC s The View, Regis and Kelly, the CBS Morning Show, the BBC, Fox and Friends and even a PBS documentary. So WING IT TO BUFFALO and join us for the fun and excitement at one of America s greatest food festivals this Labor Day Weekend - The National Buffalo Wing Festival! Keep Wingin It, DREW CERZA THE "WING KING" EVENT DETAILS LOCATION Coca-Cola Field in Downtown Buffalo, NY - Home of the Buffalo Bison Baseball Team (AAA) CONTACT Drew Cerza (716) Wingking@buffalowing.com DATES Labor Day Weekend Saturday, September 1st - noon to 9pm Sunday, September 2nd - noon to 7pm CROWD ESTIMATE 60,000+ patrons over two days BENEFITING CHARITIES Meals on Wheels of WNY Alzheimer s Association of WNY Food Bank of WNY Food Shuttle of WNY (Feeding the Hungry) ADVERTISING PRINT - Buffalo News, Night Life Magazine TV - WGRZ TV2 (NBC), WKBW TV7 (ABC), FOX TV RADIO - WGR550 Sports Radio, Kiss 98.5 Radio, WBEN News Talk Radio, STAR 102 Radio PAST MEDIA COVERAGE Today Show, NBC Nightly News, CBS Morning Show, CBS National News, Good Morning America, ABC National News, CNN, MSNBC, Fox & Friends, Fox News, The View, Regis & Kelly, Food Network, Travel Channel, Emeril Live and many more. Hundreds of print articles have also been written in newspapers and publications including USA Today, New York Times, Saveur Magazine, and Parade Magazine just to mention a few. DEMOGRAPHICS * Survey conducted in 2012 by Ruth Diamond Research, Inc. AVERAGE AGE: 39.3 % COLLEGE EDUCATED: 95% MARRIED: 42% AVERAGE HH INCOME: $82,583 56% MALE 44% FEMALE OVERALL SATISFACTION Overall satisfaction with the event averaged 4.4 on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being excellent. The most prevalent multiple verbatim reasons given behind high ratings included: Wings (11%) Great event (10%) Fun (6%) Great food (6%) Great time (6%) Atmosphere (5%)

3 THE NATIONAL BUFFALO WING FESTIVAL has become the Super Bowl of the chicken wing industry for restaurants, wing lovers and even competitive eaters. The festival has been showcased by such national media as the Food Network, - All-American Festivals, Unwrapped, Throwdown with Bobby Flay, and Emeril Lagasse Live, the Travel Channel - Bar Food Paradise, Taste of America, and Food Wars, NBC s Today Show, ABC s The View, Regis and Kelly, the CBS Morning Show, the BBC, Fox and Friends and even a PBS documentary. CNN Headline News CNN Live NBC Today Show Throwdown with Bobby Flay Emeril Live Live with Regis and Kelly NATIONAL TV TRACKING NATIONAL NETWORK AFFILIATES REPORT GENERATED: Total Story Count: 724 Total Nielsen Audience: 24,598,692 Total Calculated Ad Equivalence: $1,064,249 Total Calculated Publicity Value: $3,193,287 NATIONAL NETWORKS CNN Live CNN Headline News MSNBC Fox News The Weather Channel Today Show CBS Early Show ABC Morning Show NBC, CBS, and ABC National News In 2015 TV Eyes Media Tracking Service reported that over 260 network affiliates of NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX TV covered stories on the National Chicken Wing Festival. CNN and CNN Headline News also ran continuous stories all weekend. Cities included, all top 50 media markets. The TV viewership by reported at million viewers and a media value of over $573,000. BENEFITING CHARITIES Each year, local charities benefit from the festival. Through the dozens of local charities including Meals on Wheels, Alzheimer s of WNY, and the Food Bank of WNY. Since 2002 the festival has raised over $345,000 for local charities.

4 LOCAL TV TRACKING LOCAL BUFFALO MEDIA LOCAL TELEVISION Total Story Count: 135 Total Nielsen Audience: 4,696,894 Total 30-Second Ad Equivalence: $49,540 Total Run Time: 3:00:00 Total Calculated Ad Equivalence: $86,706 Total Calculated Publicity Value: $260,118 This report was generated by Newstrax through a national media tracking service for television. It contains copyrighted material and may be used for file and reference purposes only. Any reproduction, sale or distribution is prohibited. Portions 2007 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. Ratings data contained herein are the copyrighted property of Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Time Warner ABC-TV7: AM Buffalo Show NBC-TV2: Morning Show CBS-TV4: Morning Show "THE GREAT CHICKEN WING HUNT" Film producer Matt Reynolds formerly of Reuters News Agency decided to film a documentary of his quest for the perfect chicken wing. On August 18, 2008 Matt started in New York City and worked his way across the state finishing at the National Buffalo Wing Festival on Labor Day Weekend. The festival was a big part of the film. The cast was incorporated into the various contests and festival activities. Bill Murray

5 RESTAURANTS Over thirty local and out of town restaurants from across America will serve over 100 different style of wing sauces this year. This past year the festival cooked approximately 500,000 wings with Trans Fat Free Oil provided by Bunge Oil. Past Participating Restaurants Anchor Bar -- Buffalo, NY Bocce Club Pizza -- Buffalo, NY Bonehead s Wing Bar -- West Warwick, RI Booty s Wings, Burgers & Beer -- Surprise, AZ Buffalo Angel Wings -- Buffalo, NY Danny s Restaurants -- Buffalo Area Locations Hard Rock Cafe -- Niagara Falls, NY Duff s Restaurant -- Buffalo, NY Falletta s -- East Amherst, NY Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino -- Buffalo, NY Wing Street -- Texas The Healthy Zone -- Healthy alternatives to wings at The Healthy Zone booth!) Scallywags Grub & Spirits -- Derby, NY La Nova -- Buffalo, NY Legend Larry s -- Sheboygan, WI 716 Food and Sport -- Buffalo, NY Buffalo Wild Wings -- Tonawanda, NY Brick House Tavern + Tap -- Amherst, NY Pop N Bob s -- Marilla, NY Quaker Steak & Lube -- Multiple locations throughout US & Canada RuChDa -- Atlanta, GA Sliders Grill & Bar -- Plainville, Berlin, Southington, Wallingford, West Hartford, CT

6 NATIONAL SAUCE-OFF All participating restaurants enter the National Wing Sauce-Off which consists of seven different categories. Three winners are crowned in each category. Winners take home bragging rights and are able to use their awards in local and national advertising. Many list their award winning sauces accompanied by the festival logo on their menus. Categories include Traditional Medium, Hot, X-Hot, Creative Sweet, Creative Spicy, BBQ, Dry Rub and Creative BBQ.

7 The festival features live music all weekend long. Elvis impersonator, Terry Buchwald entertained thousands last year with his high energy performance. Local talent also includes Pirate Dreams as they perform a Jimmy Buffet Tribute. International singing legend Terry Sylvester formerly of the Hollies has appeared in the past and performed many of hit #1 songs including Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress, The Air That I Breathe, and He Ain t Heavy, He s My Brother. Rap artist and competitive eater, Eric Badlands Booker performs songs from his CDs, including Hungry and Focused. The main stage emcee, Dennis George A.K.A. the Quiz Master, dazzles the crowd with his fun trivia shows all weekend long. ENTERTAINMENT

8 A HOT TIME IN A COOL CITY

9 FESTIVAL FACTS 935,000 Attendees 5 Million Wings Served $345,000 Raised for Charity

10 UNITED STATES BUFFALO WING EATING CHAMPIONSHIP In 2012, Joey Jaws Chestnut of San Jose, CA, consumed a world record of 191 chicken wings in 12 minutes and beat the two year champion Sonya The Black Widow Thomas. Chestnut is also the Nathan s Hot Dog eating Champ and the #1 competitive eater in the world. This was big news with the national and local media.

11 BABY WING CONTEST Let s not forget the little ones. Sunday festivities begin with the Baby Wing Contest. Parents are encouraged to dress their children in Buffalo or chicken wing themed costumes. Themes included Chickens, Buffalo Bills, and many more! BUFFALO BUFFET BOWL An annual crowd favorite is the Buffalo Buffet Bowl featuring some of Buffalo s best regional foods including, pizza, pierogies, Buffalo chicken fingers and of course Buffalo Wings. The first contestant to finish the 5 pound plate is the winner.

12 AMATEUR WING SAUCE COMPETITION CREATIVE AND TRADITIONAL CATEGORIES Amateur cooks from all over the country submit hundreds of entries each year to participate in the Traditional and Creative Wing Sauce Competition. Five participants compete in each category. Several contestants over the years have actually bottled their winning sauces and started wing sauce businesses. MISS BUFFALO WING PAGEANT The Miss Buffalo Wing Contest is a display of world class pageantry. In 2013 contestants answered trivia questions about Buffalo, read excerpts from Macbeth and were asked to identify the heat intensity of the sauce on a chicken wing.

13 AMATEUR WING EATING COMPETITION Big wing eaters from all over the country compete to take home the crown of Amateur Wing Eating Champ. Twelve contestants feverishly consume wings for 8 minutes in this highly competitive contest XXXHOT WING EATING CONTEST Big wing eaters from all over the country compete to take home the crown of Amateur Wing Eating Champ. Twelve contestants feverishly consume wings for 8 minutes in this highly competitive contest

14 KIDS ZONE In the Kids Zone, you will find a great family atmosphere with fun chicken theme crafts and entertainment. "BLUE CHEESE BOWL" BOBBING FOR WINGS This contest has been a festival and media favorite for years. Thousands of fans cheer on three contestants bobbing for wings in a kiddy pool filled with blue cheese dressing. After three minutes, the contestant that pulls out the most wings without using their hands is the winner. You may ask why do we get hundreds of entries? It s simple all for the free t-shirt.

15 In 2006, Buffalo Wing Hall Of Flame was launched. The criteria for induction is based on an individual s or organization s commitment to the Wing Industry by helping to take chicken wings to the next level of popularity THE FIRST INDUCTEES WERE FRANK AND TERESSA BELLISSIMO, founders of the Anchor Bar and creators of the original Buffalo Wing in SCOTT LOWERY AND JIM DISBROW, FOUNDERS OF BUFFALO WILD WINGS were inducted for creating the largest chicken wing chain in the country at the time (over 450 units) FRANK S REDHOT was a natural induction in 2008 as they were the main ingredient in the original Buffalo Wing recipe. Frank s is now the most popular wing sauce ingredient for restaurants across the country ADAM SCOTT AND MATT FRIEDMAN, FOUNDERS OF WING ZONE started cooking wings in their college dorms in at the Florida University. Since then they have over 100 units located predominately in the Southeast as well as International DONN ESMONDE, COLUMNIST FOR THE BUFFALO NEWS floated the idea of a National Wing Festival in a column back in 2001 after seeing the movie Osmosis Jones. Drew Cerza read the article at took on Donn s challenge BUFFALO BISON BASEBALL ORGANIZATION, hosts of the National Buffalo Wing Festival at Coca-Cola Field since its inception in The Bison s provide the infrastructure and support to make the festival a success ANTONIO SWAD, FOUNDER OF WINGSTOP RESTAURANTS. Antonio followed his dreams to open a chicken wing focused restaurant and didn t stop until he reached 100 stores. He then sold the concept to a group that have made Wingstop one of the largest wing concept operators in the country with over 500 units BILL MURRAY, ACTOR IN OSMOSIS JONES, Bill Murray, Actor in Osmosis Jones played the part of an average Joe addicted to fried food and other artery-clogging fare, who was headed to Buffalo New York for of all things..a chicken wing festival. Well, as we all know, at that time there WAS NO CHICKEN WING FESTIVAL in Buffalo, NY at least not yet DREW CERZA, WING KING AND NATIONAL BUFFALO WING FESTIVAL FOUNDER Drew Cerza, Wing King and National Buffalo Wing Festival Founder - Cerza s vision has transformed Buffalo, NY into a destination for wing lovers the world over. They come to participate in the experience that IS the National Buffalo Wing Festival. An experience defined by the heart and soul of its creator, the Wing King himself, Buffalo s own Drew Cerza MAJOR LEAGUE EATING - GEORGE SHEA, SONYA THOMAS, ERIC BADLANDS BOOKER. Major League Eating, is the sanctioning body for all professional eating contests worldwide. George Shea is its founder, CEO and the Master of Ceremonies at MLE events. Sonya The Black Widow Thomas continues to dominate her peers while only weighing in at 105 pounds. Eric Badlands Booker is the people s champ and is an integral part of the festival JON YOUNG, BUFFALO RESTAURANTEUR AND CREATOR OF THE MAMBO SAUCE. John Young, former Buffalo restaurateur and chef is more than an asterisk in the rich annals of the chicken wing. He is a pioneer. In the 1960s, Young independent of the 1964 wing-creation of Teressa Bellissimo at the Anchor Bar came up with a variation of the now-renowned delicacy. Although Young claimed credit as the true creator of the chicken wing phenomenon, his is not the version that the world subsequently came to know and love. Had fate taken a different turn, however, we might today be slathering our wings in his highly seasoned, tomato-based Mambo Sauce and Young would posthumously wear the crown of the chicken wing creation.

16 TENTATIVE 2018 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS SATURDAY September 1st 12-9PM SUNDAY September 2nd 12-7 PM Kids Zone - Play all day! Amateur Creative Sauce-Off Amateur Traditional Sauce-off Heavenly Chillbillies Blues Band Dennis George QuizMaster The Healthy Zone Recipe Challenge Bobbing for Wings Amateur Wing Eating Championship Dennis George QuizMaster Restaurant Awards Ceremony Buffalo Buffet Bowl Eating Contest Heavenly Chilbillies Blues Band End of Day One 1:00 PM 1:30 PM 2:00 PM 2:30 PM 3:00 PM 3:30 PM 4:00 PM 4:45 PM 5:15 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 12:30 PM 1:00 PM 1:30 PM 2:00 PM 2:30 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM Kids Zone - Play all day! Baby Wing Competition Dennis George Quizmaster Miss Buffalo Wing Pageant Bobbing for Wings College Wing Eating Competition Hot Buffalo Wing Eating Contest Dennis George Quiz Master U.S. Chicken Wing Eating Championship Heavenly Chilbillies Closing Ceremonies NATIONAL BUFFALO WING FESTIVAL Produced by Just Wing It Productions 6038 Wexford Manor, Clarence Center, NY Contact: Drew Cerza (716) wingking@buffalowing.com