Number of Nathan’s qualifiers per year

Here is the number of Nathan’s qualifiers held during a circuit (July 5-July 3) for each finals since 2003 as best as I can figure out. The 19 qualifiers scheduled for 2016-17 are the most since 2007-2008. This means that at least 44 people will qualify for the 2017 finals assuming Matt Stonie and Sonya Thomas receive byes (4 previous champions, 38 qualifier winners and 2 wild cards).

19 2017
12 2016
15 2015
14 2014
12 2013
13 2012
14 2011
15 2010
18 2009
19 2008
14 2007
16 2006
14 2005
14 2004
13 2003

A numbered list of all the qualifiers in the database since July 5, 2002 follows if anyone wants to count. (The second column is the year of the finals for the qualifier)

1 2017 2017 Jun 30 Naperville Ribfest Naperville, IL
2 2017 2017 Jun 24 Giant National Capital BBQ Battle, Washington, DC
3 2017 2017 Jun 18 Sail Boston Boston, MA
4 2017 2017 Jun 18 NY Mets Ballpark Queens, NY
5 2017 2017 Jun 11 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, PA
6 2017 2017 Jun 11 Norfolk Harborfest Norfolk, VA
7 2017 2017 Jun 3 Taste of Syracuse Festival Syracuse, NY
8 2017 2017 May 27 Speed Street Festival Charlotte, NC
9 2017 2017 May 19 Cincinnati Reds ballpark Cincinnati, OH
10 2017 2017 May 13 Wild Adventures Theme Park Valdosta, GA
11 2017 2017 May 6 Riverfest Tampa, FL
12 2017 2017 May 6 Mayfest Fort Worth, TX
13 2017 2017 Apr 28 St. Louis Cardinals Ballpark St. Louis, MO
14 2017 2017 Apr 22 Thunder Over Louisville Air Show Louisville, KY
15 2017 2017 Apr 22 New York, New York Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
16 2017 2017 Apr 15 Miami Marlins ballpark St. Louis, MO
17 2017 2017 Mar 25 Germain Arena Estero, FL
18 2017 2017 Mar 18 Big League Weekend @ the Alamodome San Antonio, TX
19 2017 2016 Oct 11 Tootsie’s World Famous Orchid Lounge Nashville, TN
20 2016 2016 Jun 25 Giant National Capital BBQ Battle, Washington, DC
21 2016 2016 Jun 19 NY Mets Ballpark Queens, NY
22 2016 2016 Jun 12 Norfolk Harborfest Norfolk, VA
23 2016 2016 Jun 5 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, PA
24 2016 2016 Jun 4 Taste of Syracuse Festival Syracuse, NY
25 2016 2016 May 28 Speed Street Festival Charlotte, NC
26 2016 2016 Apr 30 Memorial City Mall Houston, TX
27 2016 2016 Apr 23 New York, New York Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
28 2016 2016 Apr 16 St. Louis Cardinals Ballpark St. Louis, MO
29 2016 2016 Mar 19 Big League Weekend @ the Alamodome San Antonio, TX
30 2016 2015 Oct 21 Tootsie’s World Famous Orchid Lounge Nashville, TN
31 2016 2015 Oct 4 Dover International Speedway Dover, DE
32 2015 2015 Jun 28 Sonoma Raceway Sonoma, CA
33 2015 2015 Jun 28 Crocker Park Shopping Center Westlake, OH
34 2015 2015 Jun 27 Phantom Gourmet BBQ & Music Festival Rochester, NH
35 2015 2015 Jun 20 The Shoppes At Piedmont Lincoln, NE
36 2015 2015 Jun 14 NY Mets Ballpark Queens, NY
37 2015 2015 Jun 13 Tootsie’s World Famous Orchid Lounge Nashville, TN
38 2015 2015 Jun 7 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, PA
39 2015 2015 May 23 Speed Street Festival Charlotte, NC
40 2015 2015 May 16 St. Louis Cardinals Ballpark St. Louis, MO
41 2015 2015 May 2 Memorial City Mall Houston, TX
42 2015 2015 Apr 25 New York, New York Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
43 2015 2015 Apr 12 Atlanta Dogwood Festival Atlanta, GA
44 2015 2015 Mar 1 Florida Strawberry Festival Plant City, FL
45 2015 2014 Sep 28 Dover International Speedway Dover, DE
46 2015 2014 Aug 17 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, MI
47 2014 2014 Jun 29 Crocker Park Shopping Center Westlake, OH
48 2014 2014 Jun 22 Sonoma Raceway Sonoma, CA
49 2014 2014 Jun 21 Phantom Gourmet BBQ Fest Boston, MA
50 2014 2014 Jun 15 NY Mets Ballpark Queens, NY
51 2014 2014 Jun 7 River Street Savannah Savannah, GA
52 2014 2014 Jun 7 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, PA
53 2014 2014 Jun 1 Grand Old Day Festival St. Paul, MN
54 2014 2014 May 31 Kmart Bloomingdale, IL
55 2014 2014 May 29 Military Commisary Fort Lee, VA
56 2014 2014 May 24 Speed Street Festival Charlotte, NC
57 2014 2014 May 17 St. Louis Cardinals Ballpark St. Louis, MO
58 2014 2014 May 3 Memorial City Mall Houston, TX
59 2014 2014 Apr 26 New York, New York Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
60 2014 2013 Dec 14 Bally’s Casino Tunica, MS
61 2013 2013 Jun 29 State Fair Meadowlands East Rutherford, NJ
62 2013 2013 Jun 29 “Madoff Meadows” (NY Mets ballpark) Queens, NY
63 2013 2013 Jun 22 Phantom Gourmet BBQ Fest Boston, MA
64 2013 2013 Jun 15 Cypress Pint & Plate Atlanta, GA
65 2013 2013 Jun 12 Market Square Pittsburgh, PA
66 2013 2013 Jun 8 CrossIron Mills Calgary, AB, Canada
67 2013 2013 Jun 2 Grand Old Day Festival St. Paul, MN
68 2013 2013 May 4 Mercato Naples, FL
69 2013 2013 Apr 20 New York, New York Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
70 2013 2013 Apr 13 Kmart – 3825 7th St NW Miami, FL
71 2013 2013 Apr 6 River Street Savannah Savannah, GA
72 2013 2013 Mar 23 Nathan’s @ Coney Boardwalk Brooklyn, NY
73 2012 2012 Jun 23 Phantom Gourmet BBQ Fest Boston, MA
74 2012 2012 Jun 16 Concord Mills, NC Concord, NC
75 2012 2012 Jun 13 Market Square Pittsburgh, PA
76 2012 2012 Jun 10 WinStar World Casino Thackerville, OK
77 2012 2012 Jun 9 Arizona Mills Tempe, AZ
78 2012 2012 Jun 7 Tower City Center Cleveland, OH
79 2012 2012 Jun 3 Grand Old Day Festival St. Paul, MN
80 2012 2012 Jun 2 “Madoff Meadows” (NY Mets ballpark) Queens, NY
81 2012 2012 Jun 2 CrossIron Mills Calgary, AB, Canada
82 2012 2012 May 19 Trump Plaza Atlantic City, NJ
83 2012 2012 May 12 Mercato Naples, FL
84 2012 2012 Apr 28 New York, New York Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
85 2012 2012 Apr 21 Kmart Garden City, MI
86 2011 2011 Jun 25 SplashDown Park Fishkill, NY
87 2011 2011 Jun 18 Concord Mills Charlotte, NC
88 2011 2011 Jun 18 Le Mall Beijing, China
89 2011 2011 Jun 12 Nathan’s Famous Hawthorne, CA
90 2011 2011 Jun 12 Winstar World Casino Thackerville, OK
91 2011 2011 Jun 11 Arizona Mills Tempe, AZ
92 2011 2011 Jun 8 YWCA Pittsburgh, PA
93 2011 2011 Jun 4 Madoff Meadows (NY Mets ballpark) Queens, NY
94 2011 2011 Jun 2 Tower City Mall Cleveland, OH
95 2011 2011 Jun 2 Tower City Mall Cleveland, OH
96 2011 2011 May 28 Trump Plaza Atlantic City, NJ
97 2011 2011 May 21 Showcase Cinema Patriot Place Foxborough (Boston), MA
98 2011 2011 May 14 Bruster’s Newnan, GA
99 2011 2011 Apr 23 NYNY Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, NV
100 2010 2010 Jun 26 Nathan’s Famous Escondido, CA
101 2010 2010 Jun 26 SplashDown Park Fishkill, NY
102 2010 2010 Jun 26 NY Mets Ballpark Queens, NY
103 2010 2010 Jun 19 Concord Mills Charlotte, NC
104 2010 2010 Jun 19 Fort Bragg Fayetteville, NC
105 2010 2010 Jun 13 Winstar World Casino Thackerville, OK
106 2010 2010 Jun 12 MacArthur Center Mall Norfolk, VA
107 2010 2010 Jun 6 Naval Air Station Oceana Virginia Beach, VA
108 2010 2010 Jun 5 Arizona Mills Tempe, AZ
109 2010 2010 May 29 Trump Plaza Atlantic City, NJ
110 2010 2010 May 15 Putnam Bridge Plaza East Hartford, CT
111 2010 2010 May 15 Junction Lanes Newnan, GA
112 2010 2010 May 8 San Jose State San Jose, CA
113 2010 2010 May 8 Showcase Cinema Patriot Place Foxborough (Boston), MA
114 2010 2010 May 6 NYNY Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, NV
115 2009 2009 Jun 27 San Jose State San Jose, CA
116 2009 2009 Jun 27 Junction Lanes Newnan, GA
117 2009 2009 Jun 27 Coney Island Brooklyn, NY
118 2009 2009 Jun 20 NY Mets Ballpark Queens, NY
119 2009 2009 Jun 13 Sam’s Club Denver, CO
120 2009 2009 Jun 13 Concord Mills Charlotte, NC
121 2009 2009 Jun 6 Sam’s Club Overland Park, KS
122 2009 2009 Jun 6 Cub Foods Grocery Store Plymouth, MN
123 2009 2009 Jun 6 MacArthur Center Mall Norfolk, VA
124 2009 2009 May 30 Arizona Mills Tempe, AZ
125 2009 2009 May 30 Sam’s Club Tampa, FL
126 2009 2009 May 23 Trump Plaza Atlantic City, NJ
127 2009 2009 May 17 Dorney Park Allentown, PA
128 2009 2009 May 16 Putnam Bridge Plaza East Hartford, CT
129 2009 2009 May 9 National Amusements Patriot Place Foxborough (Boston), MA
130 2009 2009 May 7 NYNY Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, NV
131 2009 2009 May 2 IP Casino Biloxi, MS
132 2009 2008 Aug 18 Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, NY
133 2008 2008 Jun 28 The Shops at Tanforan San Bruno, CA
134 2008 2008 Jun 28 Nathan’s Famous restaurant (Third & Market Streets) Camden, NJ
135 2008 2008 Jun 26 QVC Studio Park West Chester, PA
136 2008 2008 Jun 21 Sam’s Club Plano, TX
137 2008 2008 Jun 21 Lenox Square Mall Atlanta, GA
138 2008 2008 Jun 21 Hard Rock Park Myrtle Beach, SC
139 2008 2008 Jun 14 Concord Mills Charlotte, NC
140 2008 2008 Jun 14 Shea Stadium Queens, NY
141 2008 2008 Jun 7 Sam’s Club New Orleans, LA
142 2008 2008 Jun 7 MacArthur Center Mall Norfolk, VA
143 2008 2008 May 31 Arizona Mills Tempe, AZ
144 2008 2008 May 31 Sam’s Club Overland Park, KS
145 2008 2008 May 24 Sam’s Club Greensburg, PA
146 2008 2008 May 24 Independence Visitors Center Philadelphia, PA
147 2008 2008 May 17 Putnam Bridge Plaza East Hartford, CT
148 2008 2008 May 17 Sam’s Club Matteson, IL
149 2008 2008 May 10 Cub Foods Grocery Store Apple Valley, MN
150 2008 2008 May 8 NYNY Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, NV
151 2008 2007 Aug 20 Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, NY
152 2007 2007 Jun 28 QVC Studio Park West Chester, PA
153 2007 2007 Jun 27 South Street Seaport Manhattan, NY
154 2007 2007 Jun 23 Century Theaters San Francisco, CA
155 2007 2007 Jun 23 Zoo Atlanta Atlanta, GA
156 2007 2007 Jun 22 Molly Pitcher Travel Plaza Cranbury, NJ
157 2007 2007 Jun 16 Mall of America Bloomington, MN
158 2007 2007 Jun 16 MacArthur Center Mall Norfolk, VA
159 2007 2007 Jun 9 Concord Mills Charlotte, NC
160 2007 2007 Jun 3 Shea Stadium Queens, NY
161 2007 2007 Jun 2 Arizona Mills Tempe, AZ
162 2007 2007 May 26 Independence Visitors Center Philadelphia, PA
163 2007 2007 May 19 Putnam Bridge Plaza East Hartford, CT
164 2007 2007 May 3 NYNY Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, NV
165 2007 2007 Mar 24 Florida Panthers Arena Sunrise, FL
166 2006 2006 Jul 3 KeySpan park Brooklyn, NY
167 2006 2006 Jun 27 South Street Seaport Manhattan, NY
168 2006 2006 Jun 24 Century Theaters San Francisco, CA
169 2006 2006 Jun 24 Zoo Atlanta Atlanta, GA
170 2006 2006 Jun 24 Long Island Ducks stadium Central Islip, NY
171 2006 2006 Jun 23 Molly Pitcher Travel Plaza Cranbury, NJ
172 2006 2006 Jun 22 QVC Studio Park West Chester, PA
173 2006 2006 Jun 18 Shea Stadium Queens, NY
174 2006 2006 Jun 17 Mall of America Bloomington, MN
175 2006 2006 Jun 17 Roppongi Velfarre Tokyo, Japan
176 2006 2006 Jun 10 MacArthur Center Mall Norfolk, VA
177 2006 2006 Jun 3 Arizona Mills Tempe, AZ
178 2006 2006 May 27 Independence Visitors Center Philadelphia, PA
179 2006 2006 May 20 Putnam Bridge Plaza East Hartford, CT
180 2006 2006 May 18 NYNY Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, NV
181 2006 2006 Apr 15 Florida Panthers Arena Sunrise, FL
182 2005 2005 Jul 2 Shea Stadium Queens, NY
183 2005 2005 Jun 29 South Street Seaport Manhattan, NY
184 2005 2005 Jun 25 Zoo Atlanta Atlanta, GA
185 2005 2005 Jun 25 Long Island Ducks stadium Central Islip, NY
186 2005 2005 Jun 24 Molly Pitcher Travel Plaza Cranbury, NJ
187 2005 2005 Jun 18 Pembroke Lakes Mall Pembroke Pines, FL
188 2005 2005 Jun 11 MacArthur Center Mall Norfolk, VA
189 2005 2005 Jun 11 Tokyo, Japan
190 2005 2005 Jun 4 Arizona Mills Tempe, AZ
191 2005 2005 Jun 4 Century Theaters Daly City, CA
192 2005 2005 May 28 Putnam Bridge Plaza East Hartford, CT
193 2005 2005 May 28 Independence Visitors Center Philadelphia, PA
194 2005 2005 May 19 NYNY Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, NV
195 2005 2004 Aug 22 Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, NY
196 2004 2004 Jun 28 South Street Seaport Manhattan, NY
197 2004 2004 Jun 26 Zoo Atlanta Atlanta, GA
198 2004 2004 Jun 26 Long Island Ducks stadium Central Islip, NY
199 2004 2004 Jun 25 Molly Pitcher Travel Plaza Cranbury, NJ
200 2004 2004 Jun 19 Pembroke Lakes Mall Pembroke Pines, FL
201 2004 2004 Jun 12 MacArthur Center Mall Norfolk, VA
202 2004 2004 Jun 5 Arizona Mills Tempe, AZ
203 2004 2004 Jun 1 Tokyo, Japan
204 2004 2004 May 30 Belmont Racetrack Elmont, NY
205 2004 2004 May 29 Independence Visitors Center Philadelphia, PA
206 2004 2004 May 27 NYNY Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, NV
207 2004 2004 May 22 Putnam Bridge Plaza East Hartford, CT
208 2004 2004 May 16 Eddie Andelman’s Hot Dog Safari Boston, MA
209 2004 2004 May 8 Kenny Rogers Roasters/Nathan’s Famous Restaurant Los Angeles, CA
210 2003 2003 Jun 30 South Street Seaport Manhattan, NY
211 2003 2003 Jun 28 Zoo Atlanta Atlanta, GA
212 2003 2003 Jun 28 Long Island Ducks stadium Central Islip, NY
213 2003 2003 Jun 27 Molly Pitcher Travel Plaza Cranbury, NJ
214 2003 2003 Jun 21 Pembroke Lakes Mall Pembroke Pines, FL
215 2003 2003 Jun 21 Monmouth Mall Eatontown, NJ
216 2003 2003 Jun 15 Nathan’s Famous Los Angeles, CA
217 2003 2003 Jun 14 MacArthur Center Mall Norfolk, VA
218 2003 2003 Jun 14 Playland Vancouver, BC, Canada
219 2003 2003 Jun 7 Arizona Mills Tempe, AZ
220 2003 2003 Jun 5 NYNY Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, NV
221 2003 2003 Jun 1 Belmont Racetrack Elmont, NY
222 2003 2003 May 24 Independence Visitors Center Philadelphia, PA

Comments (13)

13 Comments »

  1. anonymous said

    March 31, 2017 @ 3:44 pm

    Bottom line winning a qualifer is not same as winning the mustard yellow belt. Waste of time as far as im concerned unless your in it for free lunch

  2. anonymous said

    March 31, 2017 @ 5:38 pm

    Very nice research OJ!

    If they have military qualifiers this year, that will be even more contestants. I wish they would have qualifiers based on population distribution though. There is only one qualifier in the west this year (Las Vegas) so there is a good chance new talent may not be found.

  3. Anonymous said

    March 31, 2017 @ 5:47 pm

    Chestnut and Sudo were the Champions last year .. Shouldn’t they be ones getting byes?

  4. ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)

    March 31, 2017 @ 7:07 pm

    Their bye was implied; note the 4 previous champions in the count

  5. anonymous said

    March 31, 2017 @ 10:19 pm

    Plus George Shea may invite a guest like he did few years ago with Colin Shirlow.

  6. anonymous said

    March 31, 2017 @ 11:52 pm

    What ever happened to civil service contest? At first only city state and federal workers were only allowed to compete but soon after they considered couriers driving daily news trucks to be civil service. Crock of shit

  7. Anonymous said

    April 1, 2017 @ 1:29 am

    Only one MI qualifier over the last 14 years. My state just never gets chosen for MLE events.

  8. anonymous said

    April 1, 2017 @ 12:12 pm

    My name is Richard I was in Gutbusters Alaska 14yrs ago . George Shea tried to sign me up with a cheap sales pitch back then but i declined the offer. He said i looked like Elvis with the dark sunglasses. I have been waiting all these years for a Nathans qualifier in Alaska where i live . Promises from the Shea guy but nothing

  9. anonymous said

    April 1, 2017 @ 5:57 pm

    Richard Schultz, right?

  10. anonymous said

    April 2, 2017 @ 11:33 am

    yes

  11. anonymous said

    April 2, 2017 @ 7:37 pm

    Are you the one who George Shea said has a Dennis Rodman vibe and you’re a chef? I like how he said “we have to get you on the circuit” He didn’t mention that he’ll own you and you’ll be destroying your digestive system in the process. Smart move declining.

  12. anonymous said

    April 2, 2017 @ 11:00 pm

    Yeah that’s me . They had like 3 contests. The black guy won shrimp contest hillbilly with cowbell won cabbage i think. I overheard the guy with dreads and short pants tell the black guy i want you to be proud of me i guess cause he didn’t win anything yet. After hearing that crap i decided this is not for me

  13. anonymous said

    April 4, 2017 @ 12:02 pm

    I remember after Richard declined George’s offer of “You have to get in our league”,,, that dopey looking guy wearing the wizard costume says “I think I can do 1 more.” I believe that was the reindeer sausage contest.

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