Joey Chestnut enters alternate hot dog eating contest following ban from Nathan's competition

Joey Chestnut will, in fact, be eating hot dogs competitively on July 4, it just won’t be on Coney Island in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Per Dylan Manfre of Sportico, Chestnut will instead compete against soldiers in a five-minute competition at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. An estimated 15,000 people are expected to attend the event, “Pop Goes the Fort.”

“Hey @ImpossibleFoods, I’m heading to Fort Bliss in El Paso on the 4th to do what I do best, military style. While I’m crushing hot dogs do y’all wanna come with and help feed the hungry crowd? You in?” Chestnut posted on X last week.

It was announced last month that Chestnut would not be competing in this year’s Nathan’s event sanctioned by Major League Eating (MLE) due to his partnership with Impossible Foods, a rival company which produces alternative-meat options.

Chestnut said at the time he was hopeful things would get worked out before the fourth, but clearly, that did not happen. The 16-time champion will not be defending his crown this year. In its statement, MLE said it went to “great lengths” to allow Chestnut to participate in the event. A report from the New York Post also said Chestnut received a four-year, $1.2 million offer to continue participating in the Nathan’s contest – which he has won 16 times in 17 years. Chestnut holds the world record of downing 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes and won the 2023 event with 62.

Joey Chestnut addresses ban from Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“I was gutted to learn from the media that after 19 years Im banned from the Nathan’s July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest,” Chestnut said in a thread of posts. “I love competing in that event, I love celebrating America with my fans all over this great country on the 4th and I have been training to defend my title. To set the record straight, I do not have a contract with MLE or Nathans and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with. This is apparently the basis on which I’m being banned, and it doesn’t impact the July 4th event.

“Sadly, this is the decision Nathan’s and Major League Eating are making, and it will deprive the great fans of the holiday’s usual joy and entertainment. To my fans, I love you and appreciate you. Rest assured that you’ll see me eat again soon!! STAY HUNGRY!”