Hot Dog Takes Top Seed in Concession Madness
SOUTH BEND, IN – Fans looking to fill out their March brackets need to look no further. The Hot Stove Concession Madness Tournament puts 16 of the top concession items at Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs, against each other in social media fan voting to crown
SOUTH BEND, IN – Fans looking to fill out their March brackets need to look no further. The Hot Stove Concession Madness Tournament puts 16 of the top concession items at Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs, against each other in social media fan voting to crown the Hot Stove Champion.
After a successful 2019 season, the Jumbo Hot Dog claims the number one seed. The all-beef frankfurter from Kayem Foods, was the highest selling concession item last season with over 115,000 hot dogs sold.
“After much deliberation among the selection committee, this is the field of items we thought were most deserving,” said Head of Selection Committee and Executive Chef Josh Farmer. “We looked at every items resumé and whole body of work and while there were certainly some tough decisions, we think we created a field in which anyone could make a run.”
Fan favorite Philly Steak Nachos from Steakadelphia took the number two seed, followed closely behind by the Chicago Dog at number three and local favorite, Gourmet Soft Pretzel from Ben’s Pretzels at number four.
Round Barn Winery’s Red Sangria claims the number five seed, a first for beverages in this bracket, but not surprising given the rising popularity for the refreshing summer beverage in recent years. Baseball staples like Helmet Nachos (6) and Brownie Helmet Sundae (10) received the automatic bid by winning their conferences but the Cub Burger (8)(hamburger patty with cheese, bacon, crispy onion straws, lettuce, and tomato) and the Prime Burger (11)(hamburger patty with sliced prime rib, caramelized onions, swiss cheese, and horseradish cream) had strong showings in a beefy conference to earn their place in this bracket.
The Mac gets two spots in the tournament with Mac & Cheese BBQ Bowl as the seven seed and Mac & Cheese Hot Dog at number thirteen. Rounding out the concession showcase are Frozen Margarita (9), Loaded Tots (12), Turkey Burger (14), and Southwest Chicken Wrap (15). Cheese Curds earned their way into this delicious sixteen by defeating Popcorn in the play in game.
A few surprising absences were Cotton Candy, Peanuts, and Chicken Tenders with Fries. Those items will be playing in the MIT (Menu Invitational Tournament) next week.
The voting will begin on the South Bend Cubs Facebook and Twitter pages Thursday, March 19 and ends Friday, March 20 with the 1/16, 8/9, 4/13 and 5/12 matchups, followed on Monday March 23 with the 2/15, 7/10, 3/14, and 6/11 matchups. Voting resumes March 26 with the elite eight, followed by the final four on March 30, and the finals on April 2.
Click Here to download the complete bracket.
About the South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs are the Class A minor league affiliate of the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Over the past 32 seasons, the team has won four Midwest League titles, most recently in 2019, and has captured eight division titles. In 2019, the South Bend Cubs hosted the Midwest League All-Star Game. In June 2017, Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs, was voted Best Class A ballpark in the country by Ballpark Digest. In 2015 the team was named Ballpark Digest's Team of the Year and received the John H. Johnson President's Award, the highest award in minor league baseball. The team is owned and operated by Swing-Batter-Swing, LLC whose principal shareholder is Andrew T. Berlin of Chicago, Ill. More information is available at www.SouthBendCubs.com.