Association Takes 'Can Crusade' to Football Fans This Fall

The Aluminum Association is partnering with Joe Cahn—the "Commissioner of Tailgating"—to carry its first-ever Can Crusade to football fans this fall. Cahn will travel to 17 NFL football games in his 40-foot-long motor coach, bringing beverages, barbecuing tips and, most important, the message that aluminum cans are the smart container to drink from at pre-game parties.

"Aluminum cans are the common-sense choice of beverage container for tailgaters," says Steve Gardner, the Aluminum Association's Vice President of Communications. "Most stadiums, and an increasing number of their adjoining tailgate areas, have outright bans on glass bottles for safety reasons. Add to that the fact that aluminum cans are lightweight, quick-chilling, retain freshness and flavor longer, and are 100 percent recyclable—and they're the obvious choice for outdoor occasions such as tailgate parties."

Joe's first stop on the Can Crusade will be September 8 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where the defending Super Bowl Champs will host the 2010 NFL champion New Orleans Saints. In addition to serving up bratwursts, beverages, and the gospel of the aluminum can, the Can Crusade will also feature an attempt to break a world record.

"All I'll say is that the record-breaking attempt will involve aluminum cans—lots of them—and a representative from the Guinness Book of World Records will be on hand to authenticate it," Gardner says.

The Can Crusade will make stops at virtually every major media market in the U.S.—including New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Atlanta—culminating in the Super Bowl February 5 in Indianapolis.

"This is a terrific way to reach an important part of the market for one of our biggest consumer products," says Gardner. "And we're doing it in a way that will be both educational and fun."

The Can Crusade marks the 16th year that Joe Cahn has taken his tailgate tour of football stadiums nationwide. The New Orleans native first set out on the road in 1996 after selling his cooking school business and ever since has made the celebration of "America's last great neighborhood" his life's work.

His activities can be followed at www.tailgating.com.

Can Crusade, Joe Cahn, world record, football, tailgating