Taco Truck Throwdown 7 presented by La Tapatia: Enhanced event plans announced

2017 event is expanding to two days, featuring baseball, live music, the Major League Eating World Taco Eating Championship and a record amount of taco trucks

June 6, 2017

FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno Grizzlies and their frequent alter-ego, the Fresno Tacos, have announced full plans and the schedule for the organization's Taco Truck Throwdown event. The 2017 edition, presented by La Tapatia, will be the seventh annual, and for the first time will be spread over two days and include a non game-day event at Chukchansi Park.
Taco Truck Throwdown 7 presented by La Tapatia will be held Friday and Saturday, July 28-29, coinciding with the Fresno Tacos game Friday evening against New Orleans. The first day of the event will resemble past years, with a litany of taco trucks, beer and music available during the game, with a ticket to the game also serving as a ticket to the entire event. Saturday, which begins a roadtrip for the team, will be a "taco festival" at Chukchansi Park, featuring live music, the Taco-Eating World Championship, and what should be a record amount of taco trucks for patrons.

At Taco Truck Throwdown 6 in 2016, a record 34 taco trucks participated, and for both days of this year's festival nearly 40 trucks are expected, as the event continues to grow. At the last two single-day Taco Truck Throwdowns, 34,820 and 37,054 tacos were sold and consumed, respectively. The baseball game the event has coincided with has sold out the previous four years, with last year's crowd of 14,651 the second-largest in franchise history.
Friday, July 28: As with last year's event, which expanded outside of Chukchansi Park for the first time, taco trucks will be both inside the stadium gates and along H Street, as the perimeter for admission to that night's game will be extended. Game time will be a 7:05 p.m. first pitch, with all gates opening at 5 p.m. Friday's game will also feature an amateur qualifier taco-eating contest, with the top finishers advancing to Major League Eating's World Championship the following day, if they can stomach it.
Friday Night Fireworks: That night's fireworks display will be presented by Brightwood College.
Saturday, July 29: With the team on the road and the stadium open, day two of Taco Truck Throwdown 7 will be a day-long event with the following attractions:
· Major League Eating: The same governing body which oversees the World Hot Dog Eating Championship at Coney Island in Brooklyn, NY each July 4 is bringing the Taco Eating World Championship to the Taco Capital of the World, Fresno, CA. Many of the country's and planet's most accomplished eaters will compete for the crown, alongside local amateurs who will attempt to qualify during night one on Friday.
· Entertainment: Houston, TX native and rapper/record producer/comedian/taco connoisseur Chingo Bling will headline Saturday's performers.
· Live music: Light Thieves, Los Hooligans, Groupo Desvelado, Force Em, The Box and more to be announced will perform at Chukchansi Park throughout the day.
· 40 or more taco trucks: The full compliment of taco trucks at Friday's game will return for the day's event on Saturday, which will feature taco trucks and other vendors on the field in a more festival-type environment.
Saturday's event will take place from 2 p.m. to midnight.
TICKETS: Tickets for the Friday, July 28 game vs. New Orleans may be purchased as any other Fresno Grizzlies/Tacos tickets are purchased, online at FresnoGrizzlies.com anytime, or at the Chukchansi Park ticket office during a game or during business hours. Tickets for Saturday, July 29 are $10 apiece.
As in past years, a fan's choice winner will be crowned, recognized as the Central Valley's favorite taco truck per the results of a vote that will be held on Saturday. There will also be a judge's choice winner, decided on Friday. El Premio Mayor will be defending each crown, as they've swept each award each of the last two Taco Truck Throwdowns.
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ABOUT THE FRESNO GRIZZLIES
The Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, are a member of the 16-team Pacific Coast League and are one of 30 teams in the world playing the highest level of Minor League Baseball. The team plays at 12,500-seat Chukchansi Park in Downtown Fresno, which is also a year-round community gathering place, hosting myriad other special events beyond Grizzlies' games, such as concerts, professional soccer and high school sporting events. The Grizzlies will enter the 2017 season - their 20th in Fresno - on the momentum of back-to-back winning seasons, including a PCL and National Championship in 2015. For information on 2017 Fresno Grizzlies season ticket and mini-plans, fans should call the Grizzlies' ticket office at 559.320.TIXS between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.