Tickets on sale for 'Meatball Street Brawl VII'

Food competition set for Sept. 24

Press Release

The calendar has officially turned to August, and people across Western New York are growing hungry for the region’s most passionate pastimes: football and meatballs!

Organizers of “Meatball Street Brawl,” Buffalo’s tastiest food competition, announced tickets for “Meatball Street Brawl VII” are now on sale. The annual event will be held Sunday, Sept. 24, outside Osteria 166 on West Mohawk Street, between Delaware and Franklin. The fun begins at 11 a.m.

“We all know how fast summer goes, and Sept. 24 will be here before we know it,” said Nick Pitillo, Osteria 166 owner. “Everybody is hungry for the competition to start – both on the football field and on West Mohawk. We’re gearing up for our seventh year of ‘Meatball Street Brawl,’ and we are excited to make this year’s event the biggest, best, and tastiest one yet.”

Presale tickets are available for $25 – a $5 savings over tickets purchased at the gate on the day of the event. Each ticket includes unlimited meatballs and beer samples from a variety of participating local breweries. Tickets can be purchased online at meatballstreetbrawl.com.

Come event day, several area restaurants will compete for the coveted championship belt and bragging rights among their peers. A panel of celebrity judges will help crown Buffalo’s “Meatball Street Brawl” winners of the Best Traditional (Menu) Meatball and Best Freestyle Meatball titles. In addition to the judges’ vote, hungry attendees will also have the opportunity to let their tastes be known in voting for winners in the fan favorite categories.

The full list of participants will be announced in the coming weeks, once participant registration is complete.

As usual, the restaurants and attendees won’t be the only winners. Proceeds from “Meatball Street Brawl VII” will benefit several local charities. The event has raised more than $100,000 for local charities in its first five years.

This year’s charities include: the Michael Donald Perry Fund at the Response to Love Center, FeedMore WNY, the P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative, the Frank Pitillo Memorial Lighting Fund, the Buffalo Police Athletic League’s Lt. Craig Lehner Scholarship, Little Smiles, and the New York State Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.

Adding to the party atmosphere, there will also be activities for the entire family, as well as the Buffalo Bills-Washington Commanders game shown on a large outdoor screen.

For up-to-date event information, including ticket and sponsorship information, visit meatballstreetbrawl.com, or call 716-858-3118.