Well there are less than 30 days left to Super Bowl XLVIII (48) which will take place at Giants Stadium (sorry, MetLife® Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Feb. 2, 2014. New York and New Jersey are the official “co-hosts”—the first time in the NFL where 2 states are sharing hosting duties. Manhattan and other New York boroughs will receive a huge tourism boost with an anticipatory influx of 230,000 spectators. Sports bars in the general vicinity of the Meadowlands will reap some rewards as well as hotels. But will New Jersey’s mobile concessions like my business—“Johnny Meatballs On A Roll” and others like myself who travel to all the summertime feasts, farmers markets, and street fairs utilizing food trucks, trailers, towable carts, tables and tents—receive a fair “piece of the pie,” especially when arguably the largest sporting event in the world will take place in NEW JERSEY?

Food and beverage vending contracts for companies to set up inside the stadium grounds were granted long ago to out-of-state based franchises who paid exhorbitant fees and went through rigorous “background checks,” more than needed to apply for a gun permit. And “the little guy” (furthermore, the local little guy) has faced an insurmountable task of making a living during the week-long Super Bowl schedule of planned activities—many of which revolve around eating and drinking. Like football, this country is built on competition, but a “street vendor” cannot compete in this game the way things are currently structured. As you all know, I’ve been creating a documentary about this called “The Johnny Meatballs Experience” (see clips at www.youtube.com/thejohnnymeatballs), and myself along with “Frankie Antipasto,” “Cupcake Cutie” and a few others are uniting for my “Balls 2 the Bowl” campaign to get our rightful piece of the pie.

We still need media attention to make our voices heard as well as the involvement of influential New Jersey organizations and famous New Jerseyans. I live less than one mile from MetLife® Stadium but unfortunately, the zoning dept. and health dept. have made things difficult for us thus far, but the Super Bowl Commission has been the least helpful. You see, going “rogue” and creating our own outdoor tailgate party within a reasonable radius to the stadium (especially when just recently all fan tailgating has been banned from the stadium parking lot) is a conflict of interest to them but our only option at this point. Or should I say, helping a New Jersey business make a buck during what could be the biggest sporting week in the Garden State’s history with a non NFL sanctioned event is not in their best financial interests. So I guess not everyone is entitled to that economic stimulus huh? Yet me and my vendor friends are the true representation of Jersey when it comes to food and I am determined to have my meatball wagon open for business that week somewhere in a parking lot close to the action – as close as I can get without being arrested – even if its in my own driveway. There is a second option for me called WINTER BLAST taking place in Secaucus, a 3 day event which – incidentally – is pretty much my exact idea. I am considering doing this but it is a large “vig” (what we call entry fee in this biz) and I still have to paint my food truck and without an endless stream of capital or an investor, I am pretty much on my own with raising funds.

So at this time I have created a “gofundme” page where I am giving this entire dream one last chance by asking for sponsors to contribute to my “BALLS 2 THE BOWL” campaign to get my new food truck ready in time and get all the needed insurance and permits in order. Everyone who helps out will get their name on a plaque which will go onto my mobile meatball bus and of course a meatball sandwich on the house – or, “on the bus”! Please note I am not in any way looking for a handout or donation, I am looking for people to be involved in this whole quest who believe in independent, local businesses like myself who sadly are being neglected by the big guys with the big bucks. But I am a primetime player and this will be my biggest stage of all. I know I can shine and if you all believe that I can as well, spread the word. Time is running out but the dream is not dead yet.

Eat, drink and be Jersey.

http://www.gofundme.com/60q17g

An abbreviated version of this blog will be appearing in an upcoming issue of METROPOLIS NIGHTS MAGAZINE.

I am also scheduled to appear on UPN-9’s “CHASING NEW JERSEY” news magazine show to discuss this further. Stay tuned.