Baseball Fans to Eat 18 Million Hot Dogs

When it comes to what baseball fans eat at Major League Baseball (MLB) parks, the top dogs for well over a century have been hot dogs and sausages—and they will once again reign supreme in 2019. According to a survey by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC), MLB fans are expected to consume about 18.3 million hot dogs and nearly four million sausages in 2019.

According to the NHDSC website (hot-dog.org), the Fenway Frank is one of the most popular hot dogs in baseball and the Red Sox are among the top sausage sellers with the Italian sausage being most popular. Fenway Franks come steamed, grilled or rolled and wedged inside a classic New England-style bun.

"It's easy to see why hot dogs and sausages have been stadium staples since the very beginning of Major League Baseball itself," says NHDSC President Eric Mittenthal. "They are delicious, convenient and nostalgic. What would America's pastime be without these most American of foods?"

While it might not take the sting out of two straight World Series losses, the Los Angeles Dodgers will still top the big leagues wiener-wise, with projected sales of 2.7 million hot dogs at Dodger Stadium. America's "Second City" is a distant runner-up, with 1.2 million hot dogs waiting to be consumed at the Chicago Cubs' friendly confines of Wrigley Field.

The Dodgers' rivals up the coast take this year's sausage crown as San Francisco Giants fans are expected to polish off 450,000 sausages, with Cubs fans not far behind at 400,000. As in past years, the Brewers' Miller Park is the sole MLB venue where sausage sales will outpace hot dogs.

While old favorites will always be on the menu, the coming season will also throw some culinary curveballs.

"In 2019, hot dogs will continue to prove their versatility at ballparks nationwide with versions that reflect our dynamic culture and changing tastes," Mittenthal says. "It's exciting and mouth-watering to see new takes on old classics that definitely are not your granddad's dog!"

For more on annual consumption data and hot dog and sausage facts and culture, visit www.hot-dog.org.