Super Suits, Not Costumes: Hanging Out On The Porch With The Loonie Dog Kings

Grab a barstool and your beverage of choice, because this past week on the Jay Bird Watching Podcast, we needed a break from the frustrating on-field product and ate a few extra hot dogs. To help cheer us up and inject some fun into the therapeutic couch sessions we run on this show, we welcomed SkyDome royalty: Ryan and Jody, better known as the Loonie Dog Kings.

While the team might be struggling to find its footing, Tuesday nights at the ballpark remain a beacon of pure, chaotic joy, thanks in large part to these two legends.

From a Simple Idea to Outfield District Royalty

What started as a simple idea to hit up Loonie Dog nights at the Rogers Centre dressed as hot dogs quickly escalated into a full-blown ballpark phenomenon. Originally, it was just a friendly competition between Jody and Ryan to see who could eat the most hot dogs during the game. An implementation of a scoreboard between the two of them quickly evolved into a tally of how many hot dogs the entire stadium's attendance can put into their bellies. 

That good-natured fun quickly spurred into a massive following. The fun group has now expanded to include the “Condiment Crew” and a whole legion of hot dog suits taking over the Outfield District of the ballpark, turning a standard Tuesday night game into a can't-miss event.

The Iron Man Mentality of Crushing Hot Dogs

If you have tuned into a Tuesday night home game, you have likely seen them: these heroes in the bleachers crushing record numbers of dollar hot dogs. But surviving Loonie Dog night week after week is no easy feat.

When asked if they are trying to pull a Cal Ripken Jr. like streak and improve their hot dog tallies as the season progresses, Jody kept it hilariously real.

"I don't know if you get any better over time," Jody explained, laughing about taking the away weeks to rest and recover. "But, you know, really, Iron Man, if we could just get through that many seasons, I just want to live."

It is a grueling marathon, but it is the exact kind of fun, fan-driven, hot dog-fueled energy that makes going to the ballpark so special.

The 77-Cent Record-Breaking Night

Speaking of marathons, no conversation about hot dogs at the Rogers Centre is complete without talking about the historic 77-cent night. Earlier this season, on April 7th, the Blue Jays commemorated the franchise's inaugural game in 1977 by dropping the price from the usual Loonie to 77 cents, and the fans delivered big time.

A record-breaking 102,202 hot dogs were consumed by the Rogers Centre faithful that night. That works out to roughly two and a half hot dogs for every single fan in the building! It’s kind of gluttonous in addition to beautiful baseball magic that the Loonie Dog Kings have helped foster, turning Tuesday nights into an absolute spectacle of enjoyment.

Superheroes Wear Suits, Not Costumes

The most important takeaway from their appearance on the show is a strict rule regarding their iconic ballpark attire. If you see the Loonie Dog Kings at a game, do not compliment their "costumes" as they truly suit up for the occasion!

"I'm just happy you keep calling them suits," Ryan pointed out during the broadcast. "That's lesson number one we have to tell the media... Superheroes wear suits, they don't wear costumes. Nobody ever said, 'Hey Superman, go to the phone booth and change into your costume.' It is disrespectful."

With Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark energy, the men behind the hot dog suits are delivering exactly what the fan base needs right now. FUN AT THE BALLPARK! So the next time you are at a Loonie Dog Night game, grab an extra hot dog, look for the Hot Dog super suits in the stands, and tip your cap to the Loonie Dog Kings.