The 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Championship will take place in Coney Island from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Thursday, July 4, 2024.
The annual contest, an American holiday tradition, will be held at the iconic Nathan’s Famous flagship restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island.
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On July 4, top male and female eaters from throughout America, and from Japan, Brazil, Australia, Korea, Czech Republic, United Kingdom and Canada will seek to break the men’s and the women’s world record.
“Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest is the ultimate holiday tradition, and we are thrilled to be back on the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues,” said Phil McCann, Vice President of Marketing at Nathan’s Famous. “Thousands of viewers come to Nathan’s Flagship in Coney Island to celebrate the iconic sporting event in-person with us each year.”
A total of 15 men and 14 women will be competing in the 2024 contest. The men’s and women’s contests each offer $20,000 in cash prizes.
Last year, Geoffrey Esper of Oxford, MA, ate 49 Nathan’s Hot Dogs and Buns; James Webb of Sydney, Australia ate 47; Nick Wehry of Port Ritchey, FL, ate 45. In the women’s competition last year, Miki Sudo of Tampa, FL, consumed 39.5; Mayoi Ebihara of Osaka, Japan, ate 33.5; Michelle Lesco of Tucson, AZ, with 24.25.
Pre-show festivities begin at 10:00 am, featuring live performances from musical and dance acts. The women’s competition begins at 11:00 am, and the men’s competition will start at 12:30 pm. Nathan’s Famous will also make its annual donation of 100,000 Nathan’s Famous hot dogs to the Food Bank for New York City prior to the event.
“The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest is arguably the most iconic sporting event in American history,” said Major League Eating Chair George Shea. “Eaters from across the globe come to Coney Island to honor this celebration of freedom.”
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Thousands make the pilgrimage to Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island each year to watch the event in person. The spectacle is also telecast by ESPN to millions of viewers across the globe. ESPN has exclusive live broadcast rights from 10:45 am to the conclusion of the event, expected to be at 1:00 pm ET. The women’s competition coverage will begin at 10:45 am ET and will be telecast live on ESPN3. The men’s competition coverage will begin at 12:00 pm ET and will be telecast live on ESPN2 and ESPN3. It will re-air on ESPN at 5:00 pm and 9:00 pm. Air times subject to change.
According to Major League Eating archives, the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Championship has occurred each July 4th in Coney Island, NY, since 1916, the year Nathan Handwerker opened the legendary restaurant. MLE, the governing body of all stomach-centric sport, 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.
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