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The New York Post reports that the 2021 Nathan's Famous hot dog eating finals will be held at the ballpark of the Coney Island Cyclones instead of its traditional location at Surf & Stillwell. The article does not mention if the venue change will be permanent or only for 2021. Joey Chestnut is the only expected entrant mentioned in the article. Miki Sudo's streak for the women's division will apparently be broken by her pregnancy. update Tickets will apparently initially be limited to 2,500 at first (Ticket request link)
This week marks the 6 month anniversary of the demolition of the hot dog eating contest Wall of Fame at Nathan's Famous original Coney Island location which began on November 22. Neither Nathan's nor Major League Eating have made a statement about the removal. It does not appear that the Wall of Fame will return, with replacement glass installed for all the boarded up windows that were behind the sign.
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio announced a plan to fully reopen the city by July 1, which would enable holding the 2021 Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest outside with spectators. Governor Andrew Cuomo mocked the proposal and claimed that he would decide when the metropolis reopened. This assertion resulted in De Blasio's press secretary Bill Neidhardt calling Cuomo a "serial sexual assaulter".
The Magical Theme Parks Instagram has a recent picture of the former Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest wall of fame site which shows that the windows previously hidden behind the wall have been replaced. This makes the replacement of the sign highly unlikely.
Whatever the fate of the 2021 Nathan's Famous circuit, the New York Mets will not host their traditional qualifier on Father's Day. They are scheduled to play at the Washington Nationals on June 20.
The New York Daily News has a column about the career of 96 year old public relations maven Mortimer Matz, who co-founded the Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest with Max Rosey in 1972.
The Staten Island Republican Party has endorsed Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa for Mayor of New York City. He competed in several Nathan's Famous finals in the 1990s, finishing 3rd in 1994 with a total of 20.5 hot dogs. In June, Sliwa received coverage after being injured while trying to defend a Manhattan Foot Locker from looters.
Magical Theme Parks posted a picture of construction work at the site of the former Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest wall of fame. We will see if this results in the construction of a new billboard.
Fink Beats the Stomach visited Nathan's Famous Coney Island location yesterday. Almost two months after the removal of the Hot Dog Eating Contest Wall of Fame (which started on November 22), there are no signs of construction on a new billboard. Neither Nathan's Famous or Major League Eating have made any statements about the sign removal. The new poll asks what you think their official announcement will eventually be.
It has now been over a month since the hot dog eating contest Wall of Fame has been removed from Nathan's Famous original Coney Island location. Neither Nathan's nor Major League Eating have made any announcement about the restoration of the sign.
Joey Chestnut talked to Yeshiva University students over Zoom on November 23.
Nathan’s Wall of Fame completely removed
Dutchmazz posted a picture of Nathan’s Famous Coney Island location with the wall of fame completely removed. He claims that it is out for repair and will return.
Nathan’s Famous Wall of Fame removed
Magical Theme Parks uploaded a video recorded today of the removal of the hot dog eating contest Wall of Fame at Nathan’s Famous Coney Island location. update Nov 23 The left side of the wall has been removed.
The segment from NBC's First Look about Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest that was televised on Sunday morning's episode can be viewed on youtube (segment starts around 16:10). Miki Sudo, Badlands Booker, Nick Wehry and Rich Shea make appearances.
Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest will be featured on the next episode of NBC's First Look, which will be televised at 1 am Sunday morning after Saturday Night Live. Nick Wehry, Miki Sudo and Badlands Booker will appear.
BestDocumentaryTV has uploaded a short documentary about the 1999 matzoh ball eating contest held at Ben's Deli won by Russell Machover. Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa makes an appearance but does not compete.
Wayne Algenio's appearance on the Brooklyn episode of "Eddie Eats America" was televised by The Cooking Channel yesterday and can be streamed online. The episode will be rerun at 10:30pm eastern on September 1.
Joey Chestnut defends Nathan’s title with record 75
update Official results
| 1st | 75 | Joey “Jaws” Chestnut | contest record |
| 2nd | 42 | Darron Breeden | |
| 3rd | 39.5 | Nick Wehry | combined with Miki Sudo’s 48.5 to set couples record of 88 |
| 4th | 24 | George Chiger | |
| 5th | 20 | Eric “Badlands” Booker |
Joey Chestnut has defended his Nathan’s Famous hot dog title with a record 75 hot dogs.
Spectrum Local News has an article about Melody Andorfer, winner of the 1972 Nathan's Famous Labor Day contest with a total of 12 hot dogs in 5 minutes. Major League Eating says they will acknowledge her at the 2021 finals.
ConeyIslandHistory.com has an article containing an audio interview with Melody Andorfer, winner of the 1972 Labor Day Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest. She is officially requesting a champions belt from Major League Eating.
The New York Daily News reports that Guardian Angels founder suffered injuries after defending a Manhattan Foot Locker from looters Tuesday. He competed in several Nathan's finals in the 1990s, finishing 3rd in 1994.
Joey Chestnut did an interview on KROQ yesterday. He says that Nathan's hopes to have some type of July 4 competition, but plans have yet to be fixed. They are looking at a Brooklyn site for the event away from the traditional Coney Island venue.
The New York Times has an article about Feltman's Hot Dogs which also covers the history of Coney Island frankfurters. The pandemic has reportedly resulted in a surge for hot dog purchases, with sales for Nathan's Famous increasing by over 50%.
News 12 reports that Coney Island USA will cancel or postpone all their programming for the forseeable future. One of the non profit organization's events is the Mermaid Parade. The article did not mention Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest.
AMNY on Coney Island 2020
AMNY has an article about the prospects for Coney Island which includes quotes from George Shea on options for Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest:
The popular Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest also hangs, in the balance with several proposals by George Shea, the organizer and “ring master†of the event, as he tries to find an alternative way to hold the Independence Day hot dog extravaganza that normally attracts thousands.
The contest itself isn’t officially canceled. Shea is looking at ways to hold the July 4 ‘gorgefest’ behind closed doors, possibly without a crowd as Major League Baseball is proposing.
Shea, the eternal optimist, is being hit badly by the pandemic. Many of his projects involve large crowds.
“We can hold the Hot Dog Eat contest with 10 people if we needed,†said Shea, who views the contest as American as apple pie and a proud Fourth of July tradition.
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