Can you eat 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes? If ya’ nasty and you think you can, Nathan’s Famous is bringing its hot dog-eating contest to Cincinnati on May 18. The event will be held on the field at Great American Ball Park after the Cincinnati Reds take on the Chicago Cubs. The game starts at 7:10 p.m. and the contest will be held roughly around 10 p.m.
It’s a qualifying event for the hot dog brand’s Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, held annually at Coney Island in Brooklyn on July 4. The top male and female finishers from the Cincy competition will win a seat at the table in July to take on current champions Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo. Chestnut ate 72 dogs and buns in 10 minutes in 2017. Sudo, the female champ, ate 41.
“The launch of the annual Nathan’s Famous hot dog-eating contest circuit signals the arrival of summer,” said Scott Harvey, executive vice president of Nathan’s Famous, in a press release. “Some of the most accomplished eaters in the world will compete at this event, but we also are seeking new talent in Cincinnati to represent our nation on the most patriotic day of the year."
The July 4 hot dog-eating competition has reportedly occurred on Coney Island since 1916, the same year Nathan Handwerker opened his hot dog stand. The competition is aired live on ESPN and an estimated 35,000 fans show up in person to watch. "MLE, the governing body of all stomach-centric sports, sanctions the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog-Eating Circuit and ensures the contests are judged professionally and that safety standards are in place at each event," reads the release.
To find rules and register for the qualifier, visit www.majorleagueeating.com. All competitors must be 18 or older.
