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Clydesdales Headline Ultimate Tailgate Party

Details announced for Triple-A National Championship Game tailgate
July 11, 2013

The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales strut into the Lehigh Valley for a special appearance during The Ultimate Tailgate Party presented by 99.9 The Hawk prior to the 2013 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game on September 17 at Coca-Cola Park. All fans arriving for the Ultimate Tailgate Party prior to 4 p.m. can enjoy free parking. The tailgate festivities - which include discounted food and beverages along with family-oriented games and activities - will last from 2-6 p.m. with a first-pitch time marked for 7:08 p.m.

The Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game is a one-game, winner-take-all contest featuring the champions of the International League and Pacific Coast League and will be televised live to a national audience on the NBC Sports Network.

Tickets for the Triple-A National Championship Game start at just $11 and can be purchased by calling (610) 841-PIGS (7447), by visiting ironpigsbaseball.com or by stopping by the Coca-Cola Park ticket office during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

The Ultimate Tailgate Party presented by 99.9 The Hawk features a wide array of activities and promotions, including:

  • Free parking until 4 p.m.
  • $1 hot dogs, $3 hamburgers and $3 domestic drafts.
  • An appearance by the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales.
  • Appearances by IronPigs mascots, including FeRROUS, FeFe, Chris P. Bacon, Barbie Q., Diggity and Hambone.
  • Free tailgate-style games and activities for fans young and old.
  • An opportunity to win signed IronPigs and National Championship Game related memorabilia.

A covered tent encompasses the Ultimate Tailgate Party which will take place in the Cherry Coke preferred parking lot located near the AT&T Plaza and Coca-Cola Park's main entrance. The tailgate is a rain or shine event.

The Budweiser Clydesdales have been the symbol of Anheuser-Busch for more than 75 years. Horses chosen for the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch must be at least three years of age, stand approximately 18 hands - or six feet - at the shoulder, weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, must be bay in color, have four white legs, and a blaze of white on the face and black mane and tail. A gentle temperament is very important as hitch horses meet millions of people each year.

A single Clydesdale hitch horse will consume as much as 20-25 quarts of feed, 40-50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day.

Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian. In the early days of brewing, Dalmatians were bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon when the driver went inside to make deliveries.

Coca-Cola Park will serve as a perfect backdrop for the 2013 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game as the IronPigs currently lead Minor League Baseball in average attendance for a fourth consecutive season and are on pace to surpass the elusive 600,000 fan barrier for a sixth consecutive campaign. The IronPigs are the only Minor League club to eclipse 600,000 fans during every season since 2008.

Coca-Cola Park and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs have received numerous honors and distinctions since 2008, including Ballpark Digest's "Ballpark of the Year" award and "Best Game Operations and Presentation" award as chosen by gameops.com

Local support for the 2013 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game is provided by Air Products, Allentown Beverage, BSI Corporate Benefits, Discover Lehigh Valley, Lane Agency, Lehigh County, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Sanofi Pasteur, Service Electric Cable TV & Communication, ServiceMaster Cleaning and 99.9 The Hawk. Additionally, Service Electric's Emmy-award winning television crew will handle the production of NBC Sports Network's national broadcast. 

Single-game tickets, mini-plan packages and group tickets for all IronPigs home games presented by Capital BlueCross, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Coca-Cola Park Ticket Office, online at www.ironpigsbaseball.com or by calling (610) 841-PIGS (7447). 

The 2013 IronPigs baseball season is presented by Capital BlueCross.