NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest will return before a live audience in Coney Island this July 4 after the pandemic dampened last year’s event.
The annual contest will be held at a new location, Maimonides Park, the home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, according to MajorLeagueEating.com.
Maimonides Park is just several blocks away from Nathan’s flagship location at Surf and Stillwell avenues, where the event is normally held.
James Walker, senior VP of restaurants at Nathan's Famous, told 1010 WINS that there is already a lot of excitement for the return of the event with fans.
“Already met with a very enthusiastic response from both fans, as well as eaters, as well as let’s call it, you know, wannabe eaters or wannabe contests—people who absolutely love the Nathan’s Famous brand name and the products that we make and love the spectacle of major league eating,” Walker said.
World records were set at last year’s competition, but few people saw it in person because it was held at a private location with pandemic-related restrictions. On a normal year, as many as 30,000 fans would show up at Coney Island to watch competitors chow down.
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut ate a record 75 hot dogs and buns to win his 13th title in 14 years in the men’s contest last year. Miki Sudo broke a hot dog eating record at the women's contest as well—48 1/2 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes—to claim her seventh straight title.
Walker said Chestnut longed for the crowd at the 2020 event.
“Joey last year mentioned that he missed the fans. That the fans being there, and obviously as the world record holder, really cheering him on, that’s part of what drives him, drives him for that world record,” Walker said. “I think everyone is excited, and certainly our champions.”
This year's event will feature 28 contestants compared to only 10 last year, Walker said.
“Last year, just because of the pandemic and, you know, how we had to run the contest, there were five men and five women. This year, it will be 18 men and 10 women, so there will be more individuals to watch and cheer on, and we think that’s going to be part of that spectacle,” he said.
Tickets for this year's event are free but will be on a first come, first served basis. Health and safety regulations will also be in place.
“It will be ticketed, so we’re able to control the level of the crowd and the seating to be as mindful of safety as we possibly can be,” Walker said. “We’re still finalizing all of those protocols.”
Tickets and more information can be found here at MajorLeagueEating.com.
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