MARCH 31, 2009

DC101 Chili Cook-Off Heads to RFK Stadium Festival Grounds

Tickets go on sale Friday for event headlined by The Offspring, Third Eye Blind and Papa Roach

(Washington, DC) – The DC Sports and Entertainment Commission announced a long-term partnership with the National Kidney Foundation serving the National Capital Area to hold the DC101 Chili Cook-Off on the RFK Stadium Festival Grounds starting in 2009. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and benefiting the National Kidney Foundation, the DC101 Chili Cook-Off is D.C.'s biggest one-day rock festival featuring top bands and dozens of the area's best chili cooks competing for top honors. The year’s event is set for Saturday, May 16 from noon to 9 p.m.

“We are pleased to welcome the National Kidney Foundation, DC101, the participating bands and visitors to the campus for one of the region’s most-celebrated community events,” said Erik Moses, CEO of the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission. “The event is not only fun but supports a worthy cause. They have a great musical lineup planned.”

Advance tickets are $35 and go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster. Tickets at the gate are $50. RFK Stadium is easily accessible by Metro on the Blue and Orange lines (Stadium/Armory station) or parking is available on-site.

For the past two years, the event has sold out in advance. Musical acts include The Offspring, Third Eye Blind, Papa Roach, Puddle of Mudd, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, and the winner of DC101's "Last Band Standing Contest."

DC101 Program Director Dave Wellington said, "Join DC101 and 30,000+ of our closest friends on May 16 for the quintessential D.C. start of summer event. The RFK Stadium Festival Grounds will be packed with amazing music, activities, food and FUN."

The Chili Cook-Off features a fierce competition between 101 chili cooks in four categories: Red Chili, Green Chili, Freestyle, and Salsa. The winner of the Red Chili category will compete in the International Chili Society World Championship this fall. Celebrity judges include Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley and safety Reed Doughty, whose son received a kidney transplant in March 2008.

Preston A. Englert, Jr., Division President of the National Kidney Foundation serving the National Capital Area said, "We are proud to partner once again with DC101 on one of the biggest events in town. The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area leads the nation in the prevalence of chronic kidney disease, but through our early detection screening program we are truly affecting change in the health of our region. The Chili Cook-Off is a major fundraiser that helps make this program possible."

Growing in stature and gaining momentum every year, the DC101 Chili Cook-Off is one of the largest events of its kind in the nation. Last year's Cook-Off attracted 22,000 people and raised over $1 million dollars for the first time to support the National Kidney Foundation's programs in research, patient services, professional and public education, and organ donation awareness.

About DC Sports and Entertainment Commission
The DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, an independent agency of the District of Columbia Government, seeks to enrich the local community by attracting and hosting sports, entertainment and special events in Washington, D.C. while promoting the Nation’s Capital as a premier event destination. In addition, the mission of the organization is to support citywide community events and programs involving youth, amateur and professional sports. The DCSEC operates the Stadium-Armory campus which includes RFK Stadium, the DC Armory and the surrounding Festival Grounds and serves as the landlord of Nationals Park. For more information, please visit www.dcsec.com.