DraftKings sponsoring Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest

Sportsbook operator will offer $25,000 free-to-play pool, limited wagering.

DraftKings on Thursday said it will serve as an official sponsor of the 2021 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Major League Eating, the organizer of the annual American holiday tradition, noted the contest was held at the Nathan’s Famous flagship restaurant in Coney Island, NY, for decades.

The 2020 version, which DraftKings also sponsored, had to be held without spectators due to Covid-19 restrictions. This year’s contest will be conducted as a ticketed event at Coney Island’s Maimonides Park, a minor league baseball facility. Officials said tickets sold outquickly.

The event will take place from 11am to 1pm ET with an in-person audience, with the live broadcast of the contest on ESPN beginning at 12 noon ET.

DraftKings said it will expand on last year’s collaboration by allowing fans to interact with the event through the DraftKings platform, including a free-to-play pool with $25,000 in prizes.

DraftKings customers in Colorado, New Jersey and New Hampshire will be able to place a variety of bets on the contest.

Last year, Joey Chestnut of Indianapolis, Indiana, set a new world record, consuming 75 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Darron Breeden finished in second place, Nick Wehry in third, George Chiger in fourth, and Eric ‘Badlands’ Booker in fifth.

In the 2020 women’s competition, Miki Sudo of Tampa, Florida, broke the women’s world record and took first place, marking her seventh consecutive title by eating 48.5 hot dogs and buns. Larell Marie Mele came in second, with 18 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Sudo will not be competing this year, but organizers said the No. 2-ranked eater in the world, Michelle Lesco, will compete.

According to the Major League Eating archives, the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest has occurred each July 4 in Coney Islandsince 1916, the year Nathan Handwerker opened his restaurant. Major League Eating bills itself as the governing body of all stomach-centric sports. The league sanctions the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest and states the event is judged professionally and safety standards are in place.

Continuing a long-standing tradition, during the pre-game ceremony Nathan’s Famous will donate 100,000 hot dogs to Food Bank for New York City.

“The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest is an epic event that epitomizes both patriotism and the will to compete,” Johnny Avello, director of sportsbook operations at DraftKings, said in a statement. “We are excited to work with Major League Eating once again to offer people everywhere the opportunity to engage with this July Fourth tradition with true skin in the game.”

Richard Shea, president of Major League Eating, added, “We are excited to have DraftKings as the official oddsmaker for this competition, which is the biggest event on the MLE calendar. It is sure to be a great July Fourth with the return of a live audience, a full slate of Major League Eaters and Joey Chestnut going for an unprecedented 14th Mustard Yellow Belt.”

Michael Bartlett

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