WASHINGTON — The National Chicken Council (NCC) announced that the second biggest eating day of the year after Thanksgiving is almost here, as Kansas City and San Francisco are about to battle in Super Bowl LVIII. According to the group, Americans will consume 1.45 billion wings while watching the game.

“Football is great. Wings are great. But they’re even better together,” said NCC spokesperson Tom Super. “Sure, you can have your chips, your guacamole, your pizza. But when it comes to menus next Sunday, wings rule the roost.”

This year’s consumption prediction is flat compared to 2023. NCC added that 1.45 billion wings are enough for every man, woman and child in the United States to eat four wings each.

The US Department of Agriculture reported that chicken production levels are slightly down from last year and wing stocks in cold storage down 13% in November compared to the previous year. NCC noted that this could explain the higher demand and higher wholesale prices on wings.

At the retail level, fresh chicken wing prices are down by about 5% from January 2023, and frozen wing prices are down 11%, according to data from Circana.

NCC said Americans are more likely to prefer eating bone-in, traditional wings (53%) over boneless wings. Two in five consumers say breast is their favorite cut of chicken, but wings are second. Out of the many wing sauces to choose from, consumers prefer barbecue (52%), ranch (46%) and buffalo/hot sauce (41%).