Jacksonville, FL, November 29, 2010 – Just over fifty contestants competed last year to be crowned Pizza Bowl champion and win hundreds in cash and prizes. Due to the tremendous response, Bruce Jackson (“Brucci” to his grandmother) is warming up the pies for a 2nd Annual pizza pie eating contest where the biggest appetites in Jacksonville can compete again. “We had a fantastic time last year with all three locations involved, celebrity judges, and some great contestants,” says Bruce. “We wanted to make it an annual event because it is the only eating contest like this in the area and people really got into it. They brought their fans, dressed up, wore team shirts and gave themselves call signs.”
This year, Brucci’s made qualifying for the event a little more convenient. “You just have to come to one of our three locations and see how much pizza you can eat in 20 minutes,” says Hannah Shearer, Brucci’s Partner. “From those qualifiers, we will pick the top 30 to compete on the big day, January 29th. It also falls in line with yet another milestone for us. Last year, we were celebrating our fifth year of business. This year, we are expanding our locations to include a new one in San Marco.”
On the heels of a tough economy for small business owners, Brucci’s is in growth mode and getting ready for their annual competition. Pizza Magazine Quarterly featured Brucci’s in a national story about pizza eating contests. “This is something unique and we plan on doing it each year because the contestants really love it. Our local high school students have been excited for weeks,” says Bruce. “We wanted to have it be successful enough to keep it going each year, and so far it’s working!”
Schedule of Events:
What: The 2nd Annual Brucci’s Pizza Bowl
When: January 29, 2011
Where: Qualify at any of Brucci’s three locations by eating as much pizza as you can in 20 minutes for a $15.00
entry fee. Contestants can qualify up to January 15th. The Ponte Vedra location will host the actual Pizza
Bowl with approximately 30 qualifiers.
“Last year, we had some amazing judges and game day announcers like Dan Hicken, Brent Martineau Mike Hollis, Frank Frangie, Sheriff Rutherford, etc. We plan on getting some of those folks back this year because they really made the experience for the fans and contestants,” says Bruce.
When asked for tips on pizza eating for sport, Bruce offers simply, “Bring your appetite”! We wanted to make it big like the Wing Bowl in Philly and I hope we can get to that stage one day.”
Brucci’s Pizzeria
An “old world taste in a new world place”, Brucci’s Pizzeria offers an invitation into the homemade freshness of the old-world pizzerias of New York City where Italian immigrants replicated precision and care of pizza making from the homeland. Coupled with a contemporary atmosphere and world-class service, Brucci’s menu is created with diligence and developed in open-air kitchens where family recipes, sauces, meatballs, paninis and hand-tossed pizzas are prepared. Three locations in Ponte Vedra Beach, Beach Blvd./Hodges and Fruit Cove (coming soon, our newest location in San Marco) provide all of Jacksonville with a dining experience that is both modern and time-honored. Our staff welcomes you or call for delivery straight to your door. Brucci’s also caters any event.
Please visit our website at www.bruccispizza.com for more details.
