The Pawtucket Red Sox (Class AAA; International League) will play as the Pawtucket Hot Wieners on August 16, part of a special promotion at McCoy Stadium.
To commemorate the one-night name change, the PawSox will wear an on-field cap and game jersey featuring the Hot Wiener logo on August 16.
“The Hot Wiener All the Way is a taste of Rhode Island,” said PawSox Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing Rob Crain. “We hope Rhode Islanders enjoy this opportunity to have a little fun when we take the field on August 16 as the Pawtucket Hot Wieners.”
A hot wiener is a staple of the food culture of Rhode Island where it is primarily sold at “New York System” restaurants. The wiener is made with a small, thin hot dog consisting of veal and pork, giving it a different taste than a traditional beef hot dog. It is served in a steamed bun and topped with yellow mustard, celery salt, chopped onions, and a seasoned meat sauce. A preparation including all of the above is often ordered by true Rhode Island patrons as “All The Way”!
Hot Wiener merchandise, including on-field, adjustable, and flex fit caps, replica jerseys, t-shirts, and kids gear is on sale now at pawsox.com and at the PawSox Baseball Store inside McCoy Stadium. The store is open before and during every PawSox home game as well as Monday – Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm when the team is away.
The Pawtucket Hot Wiener logo was designed by Brandiose. It was inspired by Rhode Island’s rich food culture and incorporates all aspects of a hot wiener ordered “all the way”. The logo also honors “The Year of the Dog” through the easy incorporation of a Dachshund, often referred to as a “wiener dog.”
Hot Wieners Night will be a tribute and celebration of Rhode Island’s most popular late-night food item.
In addition to the team wearing Hot Wieners caps and jerseys, the team plans to invite a number of local food trucks to sell their delicious hot wieners. The Dog House Dog cart on Mondor Way will be serving hot wieners. The first 50 fans to enter the stadium wearing their Hot Wieners merchandise will have the option to enter a Hot Wiener eating contest. The winner will receive a Pawtucket Hot Wieners Prize Pack.
Other fun additions to the night will include fans with Dachshunds being invited for a hot wiener (dog) parade before the game, and local wienie joint owners being honored in pregame ceremonies. There will be a voting poll in which fans can voice their favorite way to order a hot wiener – all the way, naked, with sauce and salt – and fans that ask for ketchup on their hot wiener will be asked to leave the stadium!
General Admission tickets for kids (12 & under), senior citizens, and military personnel will be discounted to $5 apiece and $0.99 of that will be donated to the PawSox Foundation…thus paying tribute to the Rhode Island 401 area code.