2012 Nathan’s circuit announced
The 2012 Nathan’s Famous qualifier schedule has just been announced. The first qualifier will be held at a Detroit K Mart on April 21. Registration will open Thursday at 11 am eastern.
- Apr 21 Detroit, MI (first Michigan IFOCE contest since a 2009 calamari contest)
- Apr 28 Las Vegas, NV
- May 12 Naples, FL (first Florida qualifier since 2009, Rebecca Oey’s pro debut?)
- May 19 Atlantic City, NJ
- June 2 Queens, NY
- June 2 Calgary, AB (was on 2011 circuit, but cancelled)
- June 3 St. Paul, MN (first northern Central time zone qualifier since 2009, return of Julie Dey?)
- June 7 Cleveland, OH (1 of 2 weekday qualifiers, Pittsburgh is the other)
- June 9 Tempe, AZ
- June 10 Thackerville, OK
- June 13 Pittsburgh, PA (somewhat surprising Detroit, Cleveland & Pittsburgh would all be on the circuit)
- June 16 Charlotte, NC
- June 23 Boston, MA
Notable dropped sites include California (leaving the circuit with no locations west of Las Vegas) and Atlanta. There have been California and Atlanta-area qualifiers since 2003.
The schedule says Sonya Thomas will attempt to defend her status as female champion, so apparently the women’s division will return. The minimum a qualifier winner needs to have his or her New York City travel expenses paid for was not specified.
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anonymous said
March 20, 2012 @ 10:04 am
They should change the rules for women qualifying . Minimum 18
Larellmarie said (Registered May 9, 2010)
March 20, 2012 @ 10:58 am
No more East Hartford nor Fishkill either. There’s definitely a women’s this year as well. According to IFOCE site, top male and top female finishers from each qualifier will earn a trip to compete in finals. Wheeeeeee! 🙂
Matt "Mega Toad" Stonie said (Registered June 22, 2010)
March 20, 2012 @ 12:25 pm
UGHHHHH………….. No California qualifiers =[
Only other semi easy one for me is Boston… and thats HELLA late….
Anonymous said
March 20, 2012 @ 12:27 pm
Isn’t Las Vegas close to California than Boston?
L.a. Beast said
March 20, 2012 @ 12:30 pm
How about brushing up on my Canadian eeeehhhh
Anonymous said
March 20, 2012 @ 12:39 pm
What top eater is heading to Vegas?
Opie said
March 20, 2012 @ 12:59 pm
Vegas belongs to Tom Gilbert.
DaxtheGinger said (Registered April 23, 2011)
March 20, 2012 @ 1:33 pm
well there is always next year for me.
Just asking said
March 20, 2012 @ 1:36 pm
OJ, is this the first time they are holding qualifiers on the same day (Calgary and Queens)? Not they have the same media markets, but I wonder why the conflict. I’m just speculating, but I wonder if it could it be that maybe they are planning on a contingency if Calgary goes on the chopping again this year. Also, didn’t they last year mention the international aspect (China) when they made their circuit announcement last year. Or, do you think they may have more qualies scheduled abroad for a later announcement? I mean talk was made about Europe earlier. I hope they have something planned for the international hopefuls, they add a lot of fun to the event for the eaters.
Anonymous said
March 20, 2012 @ 1:56 pm
Last year Vegas had Flash Gordon and Adrian Morgan
Anonymous said
March 20, 2012 @ 2:01 pm
No, there have been overlapping qualifiers in the past. Tom Gilbert is only going to qualify if he signs a contract. The international eaters that have taken up table space in the past, with the exception of the Japanese and (I think) the one Chinese competitor last year, caused other eaters who deserved to be there to be shut out.
Anonymous said
March 20, 2012 @ 2:04 pm
No Cali qualifiers? Awww. Too bad. The Northeast is down to three, where most of the eaters are. WTF is with all the Western qualifiers (including Pittsburgh, which is a looonng drive from the East coast)?
Just asking reply said
March 20, 2012 @ 2:08 pm
Thackerville and Hawthorne were on the same day just last year! Can’t you do any of your own research? See the word DATABASE at the top of the screen? Learn how to use it, idiot! Screw the international qualifiers and competitors. If they can’t come here and qualify legitimately, why should we take a qualifier to them?!?
Just asking said
March 20, 2012 @ 2:26 pm
Annony 2:01, besides the top five money winners it can be claimed that a lot of the other eaters are their to just take up space. But everyone has a role in an event like this and they do provide local, regional interest from some viewers (Hey, look that guy’s from my hometown!). When it comes to international eaters, the media likes the global angle (foreign eaters are always good for an interview and profile), increases coverage abroad, and it’s just fun from a cultural standpoint. Which, for many eaters, particularly for those not in the money, that’s what it’s all about. To use an example, part of the failure from a national media perspective of recent year’s wing bowls (not including Kobi’s this year) has been they have all been limited to local Philly area eaters. When Joey won, California markets and more national outlets covered it. When Sonya won, D.C. area markets and more national outlets covered it. To attract viewers and other media markets you need to expand your eater base. That’s part of the argument why Nathan’s holds these qualifiers throughout the nation.
DaxtheGinger said (Registered April 23, 2011)
March 20, 2012 @ 2:27 pm
I know Jaun is gunning for the Vegas qualifier.
ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)
March 20, 2012 @ 2:45 pm
Here is a link for all of the IFOCE Nathan’s contests in the database
http://eatfeats.com/query.php?contest_comp=starts+with&contest_name=nathan&contest_org=IFOCE&_button=Find+Contests
There were three qualifiers on June 26, 2010
Just asking said
March 20, 2012 @ 3:16 pm
Annony 2:08 — Anger issues? I didn’t feel like doing research, because I knew OJ would find the answer. And, of course there would always be sad, pathetic losers like you sitting in mom’s basement with nothing to better to do than do the research for me. Thanks for being my database researching bitch. Regarding why do international qualifiers, I guess you’re too much of an idiot to realize that this whole event is designed to gain media attention to Nathan’s, and having international qualifiers helps accomplish that. Hey, since you’re my database bitch, take you’re hand out of your pants and type in Google for me. Last I checked Asia/China has more people on the planet than anywhere in the world you xenophobic dumbass.
Simple Fact said
March 20, 2012 @ 3:31 pm
You have a female champion at every contest. That is the woman to place highest among her peers. No need for a separate women’s event. Who really cares?
Ben Do said
March 20, 2012 @ 3:43 pm
Noooo leave us Canadians alone. Stay in the States and qualify there 😛
Just asking said
March 20, 2012 @ 3:50 pm
Simple Fact — People who care that Sonya, who ate 40 dogs, wasn’t in the Men’s qualifier last year: 4th 39 $1,500.00 “Notorious” Bob Shoudt Royersford, PA; 5th 34 $500.00 Sean “Flash” Gordon Downingtown, PA; and 5th 34 $500.00 Matt “Megatoad” Stonie San Jose, CA. I suspect other eaters would rather not to have to lose to The Black Widow as well as Juliet this year. In addition, those who wouldn’t qualify if they had to eat against Sonya and Juliet wouldn’t be too happy. I also think, in light of the media and fan attention Nathan’s got out of Sonya and woman’s event before (prize money discrepancy) and after the event last year (first woman champion), the people at Nathan’s would like a separate women’s event. And, they have the final say.
anonymous said
March 20, 2012 @ 3:52 pm
Just asking ,I hope and pray you are able to get some sleep tonight. The qualifier issue seems to be taking its toll on your brain
Simple Fact said
March 20, 2012 @ 4:10 pm
Let them eat with the men and as an aside just pull them aside and say something to the effect ” and your overall 8th place finisher and the woman eating the most dogs is yada yada. No point for Nathan’s to waste good money that could be given as bonuses to the men’s top three. Also it is sickening having to watch ond drinking contest let alone two.
Ron Koch said
March 20, 2012 @ 5:26 pm
Poor Tom Gilbert,He’s so screwed up he has to have 2 ex MLEers speak for him..One last time..For the last three years he used his influence with the radio channel to get me bounced from the Hash House corned beef contest.THREE YEARS IN A ROW. Then he compete against an 8 and 11 year old in a casino, beating them and taking the prize..Great guy is’nt he?Now he wants to be part of MLE..He already said that he’ll sign the contract, eat the dogs in the contes and then go back to being an independant eater,blowing off the contract..Great guy is’nt he.So you anonymous bottom feeders keep defending him, he needs your kind.
juanmorebite82 said (Registered July 12, 2011)
March 20, 2012 @ 5:51 pm
@DaxTheGinger you know i am
Anonymous said
March 20, 2012 @ 7:03 pm
Stonie just go to Vegas, you will have an easy win there and its a lot closer than Boston
Gentleman Joe said (Registered December 8, 2005)
March 20, 2012 @ 8:10 pm
You may have to be 21 to compEAT in Vegas. It is held at a casino, NY NY. Unless thats changed.
anonymous said
March 20, 2012 @ 8:21 pm
Why does this kid tell everyone his real.age. Just lie and tell them youre 21 Nobody checks
Anonymous said
March 20, 2012 @ 8:24 pm
Stonie is doing asparagus same day the Vegas qualifier is. Oh, there’s no 21 yr old restriction at the Vegas qualy. Its held outside the casino.
Bronx boy said
March 20, 2012 @ 10:21 pm
What ex MLE eaters are you talking about Ron?
NY NY said
March 20, 2012 @ 10:42 pm
The contest is held on the “Brooklyn Bridge”, which is outside the casino itself. on the Strip. Go get ’em Matt
Anonymous said
March 20, 2012 @ 10:56 pm
Stonie should blow off Stockton and do Vegas, Nathans qualifier is way more important then any other contest for his career
Ron Koch said
March 21, 2012 @ 7:18 am
They are not NYkers but vegasites
Toupee Boy said
March 21, 2012 @ 10:39 am
The Thackerville qualifier is a slam dunk for Morgan and I think Bam for second just like last year. The woman that won there last year ate 5 HDB’s. Ignore the evil one he is full of bad MoJo and you don’t want to get any of that on you. If it was not for the comments this site would not get as many hits, thats a fact. This site is wonderful… warts and all! 🙂
SPBBBBMBBSTBarlow said
March 21, 2012 @ 10:59 am
Dang! No Atlanta area qualifier?? No more Krystals, now this….When will I ever get to see the Pi Guy, Ravishing Rich Foley, Damien Boykin, and my other fellow flailers again??!? WAH!
ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)
March 21, 2012 @ 11:52 am
Comments not about the upcoming qualifiers have been moved to:
http://eatfeats.com/off-topic-metacomment-thread.html
Anonymous said
March 21, 2012 @ 1:57 pm
I think I’m going to sign up to eat at the Pittsburgh qualifier. Right before we eat, I’m going to make a big scene about the best eaters not being represented and offer to give my seat up to Bob Kuhns….because we all know they won’t let him in on his own….stay tuned, it will be interesting to see how they handle it with the crowd watching….should be fun!