Kingsford^® Charcoal Partners with ESPN for Second Annual Tailgate Week, Bringing Fans the Chance to Win Prizes and Learn Game Day Strategies from Football and Grilling Greats

OAKLAND, Calif. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) September 12, 2008 -- This football season, analyst and grilling enthusiast Mike Golic isn’t just predicting on-the-field outcomes, he’s giving fans insider tips on how to make the most of game day strategies right from home. Golic has drafted champion pitmaster Chris Lilly to help create winning plays to give fans the home field advantage of hosting a tailgate party in their own backyards.

Nothing brings people together like a charcoal grill, especially on game day

For a backyard tailgate with all the sights, sounds and smells of the stadium, I fire up my grill with plenty of Kingsford charcoal. Grilling at home can be even better than the stadium parking lot, since you can invite a stadium worth of family and friends to enjoy the experience together.

Tailgating prior to kickoff is the number one way I get fired-up for the game. I'm about as big of a grilling enthusiast as I am a sports fan, so any game day is a great day to be around the grill in my backyard

Game day – whether it's for football, basketball, baseball, soccer or NASCAR and other racing events – is the perfect excuse to spend time around the grill with family and friends

In the second year of our partnership with ESPN, we're hoping to score big with grilling enthusiasts, encouraging them to keep the grill out for football, and continue to keep the charcoal grill going year-round.

Now in its second year, Tailgate Week, created by Kingsford^® charcoal and ESPN, will provide football and grilling fans with more ways to enjoy the pre-game ritual, even if they don’t have tickets to the week’s big match-up. To unite two of his favorite pastimes, Lilly will conduct grilling demonstrations and encourage viewers to employ his tips at their own gatherings.

“Nothing brings people together like a charcoal grill, especially on game day,” said Lilly. “For a backyard tailgate with all the sights, sounds and smells of the stadium, I fire up my grill with plenty of Kingsford charcoal. Grilling at home can be even better than the stadium parking lot, since you can invite a stadium worth of family and friends to enjoy the experience together.”

With gas prices at a record high and consumers looking for ways to stretch the dollar, many fans will be more inclined to grill at home this season. Since nearly half of grillers (47 percent) are grilling at least a few times per week¹, and 27 percent of people entertain at home at least weekly (up from 16% in 2003)², igniting the grill during the gridiron clash is a natural progression toward enjoying the game while savoring delicious food, and saving some money.

“Tailgating prior to kickoff is the number one way I get fired-up for the game. I'm about as big of a grilling enthusiast as I am a sports fan, so any game day is a great day to be around the grill in my backyard,” said Golic, who likes to let his competitive spirit out with a friendly wager on the game where the losers are responsible for “tackling” the dishes and cleaning up when the party is over.

To capitalize on Golic’s spirited attitude and to honor likeminded at-home tailgaters, Kingsford and ESPN are encouraging enthusiasts to enter the “On the Grill” sweepstakes when they visit ESPN.com (keyword Kingsford). From August 25, through November 2, 2008, fans will also have the opportunity to earn one bonus sweepstakes entry by submitting a college-football themed or tailgate-themed question for Mike Golic or other ESPN anchors to answer live on air. One grand prize winner will be chosen to win 8 tickets to the 2009 New Year’s Day college football bowl game in Orlando, Fla., and a private house to host a pre-game backyard tailgate. Additionally, three weekly winners will be chosen during the 10-week long promotion to win a Kingsford^® Tailgating Grill Pack, everything needed for throwing the ultimate game day party including an “ESPN Gameday Gourmet” cookbook, a charcoal grill, Kingsford^® grilling accessories and a grilling season’s supply of Kingsford^® charcoal.

"Game day – whether it’s for football, basketball, baseball, soccer or NASCAR and other racing events – is the perfect excuse to spend time around the grill with family and friends,” said Stephanie Mann, associate marketing manager for Kingsford. “In the second year of our partnership with ESPN, we’re hoping to score big with grilling enthusiasts, encouraging them to keep the grill out for football, and continue to keep the charcoal grill going year-round."

For more details about the “On the Grill” contest, to submit and read Golic’s answers to real fan questions, and for recipes and tips for hosting tailgates from home, visit www.MealsTogether.com. This unique Web site unites four Clorox brands – Hidden Valley^®, KC Masterpiece^®, Kingsford^® and Glad^® – in an effort to promote family togetherness. Each brand brings an important element of family dining to the table, and the Web site features a holistic experience that stimulates, inspires and enables families to create quality times together at home.

The Clorox Company

The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with fiscal year 2008 revenues of $5.3 billion. Clorox markets some of consumers' most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products, Green Works™ natural cleaners, Armor All^® and STP^® auto-care products, Fresh Step^® and Scoop Away^® cat litter, Kingsford^® charcoal, Hidden Valley^® and KC Masterpiece^® dressings and sauces, Brita^® water-filtration systems, Glad^® bags, wraps and containers, and Burt’s Bees^® natural personal care products. With 8,300 employees worldwide, the company manufactures products in more than two dozen countries and markets them in more than 100 countries. Clorox is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling more than $73.9 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges. In fiscal 2008 alone, the foundation awarded $4.2 million in cash grants, and Clorox made product donations valued at $10.2 million. For more information about Clorox, visit www.TheCloroxCompany.com.

¹ Source: NPD’s “Eating Patterns in America” report, 2007. Weber GrillWatch Survey 2008

² Source : GfK Roper Reports, Nov. 2007

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