NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — After being barred from the July 4th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition in 2024 over disputes regarding a sponsorship deal, competition eating’s biggest star Joey Chestnut could be making his return to the Coney Island eat-off this year.
“We love him. So we’ve always wanted him, and we are in conversations with him now, and we hope that they continue and that, you know, that it all works out,” Major League Eating’s George Shea told 1010 WINS. “We would love to have him in Coney Island on the 4th of July.”
Chestnut—the record-holding 16-time champion of the Nathan’s 4th of July competition—did not participate last year due to his standing sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, which had launched a plant-based hot dog.
Since he was not enrolled in the competition, someone other than Chestnut walked away with the coveted Mustard Belt for the first time since 2015: Chicago native Patrick Bertoletti, who ate 58 hot dogs.
In an interview with The Blast last month, Chestnut teased a 2025 return to the Nathan’s contest to earn back his crown. He said that he “loves” the tradition, and would come back if negotiations worked out.
“If they came back with similar terms we were talking about last year, I would definitely consider it,” he said. “I’d work with them to make sure there weren’t any conflicts with other sponsors.”
“Honestly, I don’t think they want to go down that route,” he continued. “And yeah, it’s a bummer. I love that contest.”
But according to Shea, “all parties are interested in making this happen,” and Major League Eating is vying to get Chestnut to Coney Island come Independence Day.
“I think everybody would like to have this happen, and that's why we're working toward it,” he said. “And, you know, right now it would be premature to say anything, but we're very hopeful that the forward momentum continues.”
Last September, Chestnut set the record for most hot dogs eaten in a 10-minute eating contest with 83. He surpassed his own record of 76, which he previously set in 2021.