INTRUST Bank Arena Announces Award Winners From a Sold-Out Third Annual Wingapalooza

SMG and INTRUST Bank Arena are pleased to announce the results of Wingapalooza 2017. The third year event, which was held today, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017 at INTRUST Bank Arena, hosted a sold out crowd of 2,000 guests on the arena’s floor and showcased the culinary flare of 23 local restaurants and chefs.

Wingapalooza took take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the main arena floor and included all-you-can-eat wings, a Samuel Adams Beer Garden featuring select craft beer options, and entertainment and music from a live DJ. Fans had the opportunity to sample unique chicken wing recipes from the more than 20 restaurants and local chefs who showcased their culinary flare and craft and competed for the best chicken wings in Wichita. The participating restaurants and chefs vied for two awards at the event which were presented by Visit Wichita: a People’s Choice Award or “Lord of the Wings” and a Judge’s Choice Award. INTRUST Bank Arena and Visit Wichita are proud to announce that the 2017 Lord of the Wings award winner, for the second consecutive year, is Valerie’s Wings and Things. Second place for the People’s Choice Award went to Lou’s Place and third place went to Wings & Things. First place for the 2017 Judge’s Choice Award also went to Wings & Things, second place went to Wingstop and third place went to Stroud’s.

New to this year’s Wingapalooza was a wing-eating contest between Wichita’s local first responders. Sedgwick County Sherriff’s Department and the Wichita Fire Department competed in the first annual wing-eating contest and the Wichita Fire Department came out on top as champions. The Firemen took home the inaugural wing-eating champions trophy as well as commemorative event t-shirts.

Participating restaurants included The Anchor/Douglas Avenue Chop Shop, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, D&T Wings, Delano BBQ, Emerson Biggin’s, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Gianni Bacci’s, Hungry Hippo, Jayrod’s, The Keg Sports Bar & Grill, Logan’s Roadhouse, Lou’s Place, The Monarch, Pizza Hut Wingstreet, Rib Crib, River City Brewing Co., SAVOR…Wichita, Slim Chickens, Stroud’s, Twin Peaks (East), Valerie’s Wings and Things, Wings and Things and Wingstop.

INTRUST Bank Arena would like to thank the 2017 Wingapalooza sponsors: Indian Motorcycle of Wichita, Samuel Adams, Visit Wichita, ABC Liquor, iHeart Radio, Channel 96.3, Alt 107.3, KAKE-TV, Sprouts Farmers Market, Martin Event Services and Walton’s.