Changes in store for Wing Fling 2010

The 14-year-old tradition began with families, children and groups of all ages coming together to hear music, eat wings, and welcome the spring season. In recent years, however, the one-day event known as Wing Fling has been celebrated mostly by college students. In 2010, organizers will implement some major changes in order to save the tradition.

Wing Fling has been held at Hugh MacRae Park in the past. Booths are set up for local restaurants to compete for the best wing, local bands play on the outdoor stage, and the beer flows. This year, Wing Fling 2010 (dubbed "Battle of the Wings") is occurring on March 20. It will be held at a new location, Battleship Park, and will no longer permit the practice of "BYOB," or bring your own beer.

According to Dr. Lynnea Mallalieu, an executive organizer, in 2007 Wing Fling turned out to be "the perfect storm." This was due in part to the beautiful weather, students' ability to communicate instantly via text message, and the promotion of the event by the two sponsoring radio stations, Surf 98.3 and Z 107.5.

"It was out of control," said Mallalieu. "There was no fencing in 2007, and when 8,000 people turned out, 3,000 more people than they had tickets available for, the organizers eventually let the 'bedlam' loose with their megaphones."

In 2008, "the word was out," said Mallalieu, who has been involved with the planning and organization of Wing Fling for seven years.

This year the change in location was brought about after the New Hanover County Parks Department passed an ordinance that no longer allows the hosting of large events like Wing Fling on county park property. This also means a change in location for Wilmington's Annual Chili Cook-off, and the Lighthouse Beer and Wine Festival.

According to Mallalieu, Legion Stadium was proposed as a new location but the City of Wilmington would claim 80 percent of profits, leaving only 20 percent to the charities.

"I didn't feel that was fair," said Mallalieu. Battleship Park was eventually decided on.

The no BYOB policy was put into effect per Wing Fling's executive corporate sponsor, Budweiser. Budweiser's slogan, "Responsibility Matters," has been curtailed in previous years, and the brand indicated it could not continue to support excessive drinking, according to Mallalieu. Now tickets will be sold for Budweiser and Bud Lights at $2 a ticket.

"I'm all for the no BYOB," said junior Ben Rogers, the publicity committee chair for Wing Fling. "People were getting out of control, and it helps us monitor alcohol intake."

Because of the new changes, some previous attendees are rethinking their plans this year. According to 22-year-old UNCW alumna Kathryn Fuchs, the event may be too expensive.

"You have to pay for the taxi ride there and back, beer and your ticket. It all adds up in the end," said Fuchs.

According to Rogers, since the event is no longer allowing BYOB, organizers discussed the possibility of allowing anyone 18 years old and up to attend; in the past. Law enforcement agencies were adamant, however, that the organizers keep the event 21 and up, which it has been since 2008.

"It should be open to everybody," said Fuchs, who remembers a time when it was.

According to Rogers, he believes that a 21-and-up rule is the best policy for legal purposes because underage drinking presents a "huge risk and liability for the organization."

Another significant change that planners hope will attract crowds is the featured band, The Breakfast Club. Usually local bands play on the day of the event for free; this is the first year a band has been hired. The Breakfast Club is an '80s band out of Atlanta that has "quite a following in Wilmington," according to Mallalieu.

According to Mallalieu, they were hired to "encourage a broader demographic" of people to attend, namely the "30-something crowd," who have all but fizzled out of the mix.

A local band will be opening for The Breakfast Club. Several are competing for listeners' votes through the Web sites of the sponsoring radio stations-Surf 98.3 and Z 107.5, according to Rogers.

Wing Fling was started by a UNCW student, Sandra Wells, who is now a local banker as well as the banker for Pi Sigma Epsilon, UNCW's National Sales and Marketing Fraternity.

"Most people in the public domain assume it's a university event, but it's not," said Mallalieu.

Pi Sigma Epsilon autonomously oversees Wing Fling. All of the members of the co-ed fraternity are required to volunteer in some way at the annual festival. Students have created the new Web site, www.wilmingtonwingfling.com, and as of this year handle their own ticketing system, scanner and domain name.

Proceeds from the event go to several charities, including the National Education Foundation, the UNCW Foundation, and Wilmington's Residential Adolescent Achievement Place (W.R.A.A.P.), an afterschool program run by a UNCW graduate that targets children in high-risk neighborhoods.