Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest contenders face off in Borough Hall weigh-in
Defending Champs Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo Joined Competitors in Pre-Contest Weigh-in
The unmistakable odor of street-level charcuterie filled Borough Hall on the morning of July 3 as crews from Nathan’s Famous shuttled platters of cooked hot dogs and steam-heated buns into the building’s main reception area. A long table covered in Nathan’s Famous’ yellow and blue tablecloth held familiar icons — bun-shaped paper hats, yellow mustard championship belts and, of course, hot dogs…lots of them.
While registered Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating contestants — recognizable in white T-shirts with red Nathan’s Famous lettering on the front — chatted with supporters and members of the press, Major League Eating founder and President George Shea bustled about wearing his trademark Jazz-Age straw boater hat and cheerful energy, ensuring that everything was in place for the now traditional pre-gorge weigh-in.
As the official count-down to the event on Nathan’s Famous website reached 24 hours, members of the press assembled in front of the borough president’s lectern, alongside which had been set a physician’s scale. Shea approached the microphone, with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams standing respectfully back and to one side.