BENTONVILLE, Ark., August 28, 2008 – Walmart today announced its game plan to completely transform more than 1,700 of its Garden Centers into “Game Time Headquarters,” customized for supporters of local college or professional football teams. Beginning this week and running through September 30, Walmart will feature everything from team merchandise and decor to favorite game-time snacks and beverages at unbeatable prices.
According to tailgating.com, 42 percent of tailgaters spend more than $500 each season on food and supplies. Walmart can help tailgate enthusiasts prepare for six home games this season with enough food and gear for a “special team” of four for about $66 per game – savings of more than $100 for the season. Suggested items* for the tailgate set-up include:
- 4 NFL® or NCAA® Hats (prices start at $5.00)
- 4 NFL® or NCAA® T-shirts (prices start at $6.00)
- 4 NFL® or NCAA® Armchairs ($19.88 each)
- 1 Uniflame® 18.5″ Charcoal Grill ($17.00 each)
- 6 bags of Kingsford® Charcoal ($6.97 each)
- 1 NFL® or NCAA® 24-Can Softside Cooler ($13.88 each)
- 6 packs of Ball Park® Beef Franks (2 for $5.00)
- 6 packs of Tyson® Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast ($6.00 each)
- 6 packs of Sara Lee® Hot Dog Buns ($1.97 each)
- 3 bottles of Hunt’s Ketchup ($1.50 each)
- 6 Lay’s® or Doritos® XXL Chips (2 for $5.00)
- 6 T.G.I. Friday’s® Cheddar & Bacon Loaded Potato Skins ($4.88 each)
- 6 fresh Vegetable Trays ($9.88 each)
- 15 2-Liter Bottles of Pepsi® Drinks (5 for $5.00)
“With 36 million tailgaters in the U.S., the kick-off to football season is one of America’s favorite pastimes – and a great way to spend time with friends and family said Janet Bareis, vice president of Walmart Marketing. “Our job at Walmart is to help our customers save money, and we want to make sure that no fan spends a dime more than they need to on their game time necessities. Inside our stores, fans will find quality licensed merchandise all at unbeatable prices.”
For fans who want to watch the big game at home or celebrate while the team’s away, on August 29, Walmart will launch the Game Time tailgate planner. This widget, created just for football enthusiasts, allows fans to download their favorite team’s schedule, and create and send e-mail invitations to friends for game day events and tailgating parties. And for fans looking to coordinate a gathering for a small group or for the entire neighborhood, www.walmart.com/gametime is a great place to access free tools to help them manage their guest list, plan their menu, download a shopping checklist, and calculate costs for everything the perfect tailgate requires. The site also offers several recipes and tips for better organization.