Budweiser and Ozzie Smith Surpass 100,000 Signatures on WhiteHouse.gov Petition to Make Opening Day a National Holiday

Budweiser to Celebrate with Delivery of Estimated 1,500 Budweiser Day Fresh Draught Kegs to Cities and MLB Stadiums Next Week

News provided by

Anheuser-Busch

Mar 26, 2014, 12:36 ET

ST. LOUIS, March 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Baseball fans have stepped up to the plate with a rallying cry to Washington, D.C.: Make MLB Opening Day a national holiday.

Thirty days ago, Budweiser, the Official Beer Sponsor of Major League Baseball, hit the campaign trail with Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith to gather signatures on a WhiteHouse.gov petition honoring Opening Day as a day of national observance via presidential proclamation. The brewer has achieved the 100,000 signature milestone and is awaiting next steps.

"There's no denying the passion that baseball fans have for America's National Pastime," said Smith. "The more than 100,000 people who signed the petition are just a fraction of the 1.3 million who will attend Opening Day games this year."

To celebrate Opening Day on March 31 and the culmination of its "Make Opening Day a Holiday" campaign, Budweiser wholesalers will deliver an estimated 1,500 Budweiser Day Fresh Draught kegs to MLB cities and most stadium concessionaires that currently sell Budweiser across the country next week. In addition, earlier this month, more than 6 million cases of Budweiser cans featuring the logos of MLB and 23 teams hit shelves as a sign of spring's arrival.

"Budweiser may have brought this campaign to the forefront and spurred the conversation around America's National Pastime, but the true accolades go to the fans that supported the petition," said Tom Kraus, director, Budweiser. "We also owe a sincere thank you to Ozzie Smith, whose passion for the campaign resonated with people nationwide and truly led this movement."

About Budweiser
Budweiser, an American-style lager, was introduced in 1876 when company founder Adolphus Busch set out to create the United States' first truly national beer brand – brewed to be universally popular and transcend regional tastes. Each batch of Budweiser follows the same family recipe used by five generations of Busch family brewmasters. Budweiser is a medium-bodied, flavorful, crisp and pure beer with blended layers of premium American and European hop aromas, brewed for the perfect balance of flavor and refreshment. Budweiser is made using time-honored methods including "kraeusening" for natural carbonation and Beechwood aging, which results in unparalleled balance and character. The brand celebrates great times and has used the phrase "Grab Some Buds" in advertising since 2010.

About Anheuser-Busch
Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 47.7 percent share of U.S. beer sales to retailers. The company brews Budweiser and Bud Light, two of the world's largest-selling beers. Anheuser-Busch is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and has been a leading aluminum recycler for more than 30 years. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo. For more information, visit anheuser-busch.com.

Media Contact:
Jeff Grass, Budweiser
314.765.2126
[email protected]

Jen Crichton, Weber Shandwick
314.552.6788
[email protected]

SOURCE Anheuser-Busch