Chili Slam began in 1993 with just four volleyball teams playing in an open field behind Lincoln Properties at 100 Congress. That field has since become a condominium—proof of how much both Austin and Chili Slam have grown. In those early years, the event averaged about 115 attendees.
At the time, the organization was known as TACOE, a chapter of the Texas Association of Chief Operating Engineers. In 1995, the group became the Austin Association of Facility & Maintenance Engineers (AAFAME).
In 1996, the event moved to Zilker Park to take advantage of the sand volleyball courts, drawing around 160 attendees. Chili Slam returned to Zilker Park in 1997 and remained there for many years, steadily growing in size and popularity. By the late 1990s, attendance reached nearly 300 people, and support from property managers and vendors was strong. During this time, family-friendly activities such as face painting and children’s entertainment were introduced.
A memorable moment came in 1999 when Transwestern challenged property management teams with the bold claim, “Don’t enter unless you want to get beat!”—and then went on to win first place in volleyball.
A major turning point came in 2001 when Judi Ford suggested adding a chili cook-off so teams could provide food for attendees. The first year featured 16 chili teams alongside 15 volleyball teams, laying the foundation for the Chili Slam we know today.
In 2003, a naming contest was held, and Victor Leeber of Five Star Motors coined the name “Chili Slam,” inspired by volleyballs slamming into chili. That same year brought record heat—101 degrees in May—which ultimately led to moving the event to April in future years.
New competitions and features continued to roll out. Horseshoes, an ice cream-making contest, and a short-lived but legendary jalapeño-eating contest debuted in 2004, crowning Conner Smith as the undisputed “Jalapeño King.” Attendance that year reached 400 people.
Between 2005 and 2006, brisket was added to the cook-off along with Best of Show and People’s Choice awards, solidifying the cook-off as a coveted bragging-rights competition. Sponsor branding also became a formal part of the event identity.
By 2007, Chili Slam had grown to 98 teams across volleyball, horseshoes, washers, brisket, chili, and tug of war. In 2008, the volunteer committee earned the nickname “The Chili Monsters,” a title that still fits today as the event now requires 50+ volunteers to execute.
In 2009, Chili Slam officially outgrew Zilker Park and moved to Krieg Field, where it would remain for many years. Wristbands were introduced in 2010 to track attendance, with crowds reaching 700 attendees.
Despite challenges—including a last-minute fire ban in 2011 that required a coordinated fire watch effort—Chili Slam set a record that year with 123 teams. The momentum continued, and in 2012, the 20th Annual Chili Slam welcomed 750+ attendees, featured a live band, and even earned coverage in the Austin American-Statesman.
Innovation continued through the years with additions such as recycling initiatives, new games, volunteer shirts, liability waivers, drone footage, and expanded competitions. By 2018, the event reached 175 teams, and in 2019, Chili Slam topped 1,000 attendees, prompting the entire event area to be fenced for privacy.
Like many events, Chili Slam paused in 2020 due to the pandemic, returning in 2021 to a crowd of more than 700 attendees—and one unexpected raccoon guest who traveled in a BBQ pit from Lockhart to Austin and escaped into the green area at the park.
In 2022, the event entered a new era of scale, requiring special event and health department permits for the first time.
In 2025, AAFAME was notified that Krieg Field would undergo major wastewater renovations, prompting the search for a new home. That search led to the Travis County Expo Center, where the 33rd Annual Chili Slam will be hosted—opening the door for continued growth and the next chapter of this incredible tradition.