Hebrew National Crowns Top Detroit Tigers' 'Higher Authority Hawker'
DETROIT -- Hebrew National's first-ever "Higher Authority Hawker Challenge" came to an operatic end during a pre-game ceremony here on July 21, when Charley "Opera Man" Marcuse took the title of Comerica Park's "Higher Authority Hawker."
As the Tigers geared up to face the Oakland Athletics, four of Detroit's finest hot dog vendors, whom fans had selected through in-stadium voting over the past four weeks, prepped for their own competition on-field. In a showdown that paired passion with poise, the finalists -- hot dog vendors Julius King, Brenda McCants, Charley Marcuse and Johnny Kelmar -- showed fans what it takes to be a Higher Authority Hawker by displaying their award-winning cries.
Marcuse's bellowing proved that he could stand out from the crowd; Tigers fans recognized him as the Higher Authority Hawker.
Comerica's food hawkers put on one "yell" of a competition to win the hearts and votes of Tigers fans, with their own distinctive hawking styles. Marcuse, the legendary Hawker known to fans as "Opera Man," did just that and Hebrew National is honoring him with a luxury trip to New York City to see the Tigers take on the men in pinstripes.
"Although Opera Man took the crown, we saw some great performances from many of Detroit's best hot dog hawkers, and were happy to see vendors make the Hebrew National battle cry their own," said Hebrew National's marketing manager Jon Swadley. "While the baseball players perform on the field, the food hawkers are in command in the stands," Swadley added. "The Higher Authority Hawker Challenge enabled Hebrew National to salute those unsung baseball heroes who make our days at the park truly memorable."
Hebrew National's Higher Authority Hawker Challenge began on June 16. For the duration of the program, Hebrew National positioned a voting station on the main concourse of Comerica Park, where, during Tiger home games, fans viewed the hawker audition tapes on a television monitor, submitted votes for their favorite hawker and checked back to view the current leaders.
The Hebrew National brand is a registered trademark of ConAgra Brands,Inc.
As the Tigers geared up to face the Oakland Athletics, four of Detroit's finest hot dog vendors, whom fans had selected through in-stadium voting over the past four weeks, prepped for their own competition on-field. In a showdown that paired passion with poise, the finalists -- hot dog vendors Julius King, Brenda McCants, Charley Marcuse and Johnny Kelmar -- showed fans what it takes to be a Higher Authority Hawker by displaying their award-winning cries.
Marcuse's bellowing proved that he could stand out from the crowd; Tigers fans recognized him as the Higher Authority Hawker.
Comerica's food hawkers put on one "yell" of a competition to win the hearts and votes of Tigers fans, with their own distinctive hawking styles. Marcuse, the legendary Hawker known to fans as "Opera Man," did just that and Hebrew National is honoring him with a luxury trip to New York City to see the Tigers take on the men in pinstripes.
"Although Opera Man took the crown, we saw some great performances from many of Detroit's best hot dog hawkers, and were happy to see vendors make the Hebrew National battle cry their own," said Hebrew National's marketing manager Jon Swadley. "While the baseball players perform on the field, the food hawkers are in command in the stands," Swadley added. "The Higher Authority Hawker Challenge enabled Hebrew National to salute those unsung baseball heroes who make our days at the park truly memorable."
Hebrew National's Higher Authority Hawker Challenge began on June 16. For the duration of the program, Hebrew National positioned a voting station on the main concourse of Comerica Park, where, during Tiger home games, fans viewed the hawker audition tapes on a television monitor, submitted votes for their favorite hawker and checked back to view the current leaders.
The Hebrew National brand is a registered trademark of ConAgra Brands,Inc.