Joey Chestnut to Buffalo unlikely

Buffalo, New York (WBEN) – Reigning Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest champion Joey Chestnut will not return to defend his title on July 4. Some considered inviting him to a similar challenge here in Western New York.

Organizers of America’s perennial July 4 hot dog eating contest say the defending champion will not compete this year due to a contract dispute. Joey “Jaws” Chestnut has been competing since 2005 and hasn’t lost since 2015.

But don’t count on Buffalo courting Chestnut anytime soon.

“I’ll bet you the odds are 0.001 percent,” says Drew Cerza, who brought Chestnut to the National Chicken Wing Eating Championship at the National Chicken Wing Festival. “For the National Buffalo Wing Festival, he started coming to Buffalo about eight years ago. I pay him, I pay Major League Eating separately. He was, he’s always been under contract with Major League Eating .”

Cerza says he found out Chestnut couldn’t make it about three weeks ago to this year’s Wing Fest.

“There are a lot of logistics when you talk to these competitive eaters and bring them to Buffalo,” Cerza told WBEN.

He adds that Chestnut already has a food event planned for Labor Day, the day after the festival ends here.

Among the region’s hot dog industry leaders, opinions are mixed.

“I think we’re known for our food, and that’s something we should definitely get into,” said Joe Redlinski of Redlinski Meats with WBEN.

Redlnski said his dogs would challenge Chestnut.

“My hot dogs are a lot bigger. I think the other guys are usually 10 to 11 pounds. I think ours are six. But they’re hand twisted. So some of them are a little bigger,” Redlinski explained.

Joe Sahlen of Sahlen’s isn’t too keen on the idea.

“I never really liked those eating contests, regardless of the product,” Sahlen said during an appearance on WBEN. “As far as I’m concerned, it denigrates the product you’re eating,” adding that it’s one of its competitors.

Sahlen acknowledges that there are certainly opportunities for promotion, but he is personally against the idea.

Last year, during Nathan’s famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, Chestnut devoured 62 franks and buns in 10 minutes.