The Nathan's International July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest is an annual competetive eating competition held at Nathan's Famous Corporation's original and best-known restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York. The event is held on July 4, and is regarded as the world's most famous hot dog eating contest. In 2006, over 30,000 spectators attended the event, and an additional 1.5 million households watched it live on ESPN.
The 91st annual contest will be held July 4, 2007, and will be televised live on ESPN at 12 p.m. EDT. Six-time defending champion Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi will attempt to win his seventh straight despite suffering from reported jaw pain.
Rules
Only adults 18 years or older who fulfill one of the following four conditions may compete:
* Being the reigning champion
* Winning a regional qualifying contest for that season
* Qualifying as the season's wildcard (highest average qualifier score without winning a single qualifer)
* Special invitation by IFOCE
The IFOCE has sanctioned the event since 1997. Today entrants cannot be from any non-IFOCE competitive eating organizations or their invitations will be revoked.
Rules used in the early years of the contest were different than today's. For example, in past contests minors could compete (Birgit Felden was 17 when she won the 1984 contest.)
During the event, the field of about 20 contestants stands on a raised platform behind a 30-foot-long table with drinks and Nathan's Famous hot dogs in buns. Most contestants drink water, but other kinds of drinks can and have been used. Condiments are allowed, but are usually not used. The hot dogs themselves are allowed to cool slightly after grilling to prevent possible mouth burns. Whomever consumes (and keeps down) the most hot dogs and buns ("HDBs") in twelve minutes is declared the winner. A designated scorekeeper is paired with each contestant who flips a number board counting the hot dogs consumed. Partially eaten hot dogs count and the granularity of measurement is eighths of a length. Hot dogs still in the mouth at the end of the 12 minutes count only if they are swallowed. There can be deductions in score for excess HDB debris. Both hands may be used. After the winner is declared, a plate with the number of hot dogs eaten by the winner is brought out.
Prizes
Winners receive a trophy, two cases of Nathan's Famous hot dogs, and in some years a non-cash prize donated by a sponsor. For example, in 2004 Orbitz donated a travel package to the winner.
In 2007, for the first time, there will be cash awarded to the winners. $20,000 in cash prizes will be awarded in 2007 as follows[4]:
March 24 : Florida Panthers
Sunrise, FL May 3: New York, New York Hotel
Las Vegas, NV May 19: Nathan's, E. Hartford, CT May 26: Independence Center
Philadelphia, PA June 2: Arizona Mills Mall Tempe, AZ June 3: NY Mets
Shea Stadium, Queens, NY June 9: Charlotte, NC June 16: Mall Of America,
Bloomington, MN June 16: MacArthur Center Mall
Norfolk, VA June 22: Molly Pitcher Travel Plaza
Cranbury, NJ June 23: Zoo Atlanta
Atlanta, GA June 23: Cinemark Theaters - Century 20
Daly City, CA June 27 : Civil Service
South Street Seaport, NY June 28 : QVC, West Chester, PA July 4: International Hot Dog Eating Contest
Coney Island, NY
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