Major League Eating ( MLE ) is an organization that oversees professional competitive eating events and television specials. The league airs its annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest on ESPN .
29-476: Brothers Richard and George Shea took over Nathan's publicity in the mid-1990s and were able to increase the exposure and attendance of Nathan's hot dog eating contest. Seeing a business opportunity, the brothers founded International Federation of Competitive Eating ( IFOCE ) in 1997 as a sanctioning body to oversee, regulate, and organize events and TV deals. IFOCE's professional league became known as Major League Eating. Major League Eating coordinates events in
58-584: A co-founder of Major League Eating and host of the company's main eating competition, Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest . He is known for wearing his signature straw hat to all the hot dog competitions. George Shea was raised in Maine. He has four other siblings. Shea graduated from Columbia University in 1986 as an English major. He entered the public relations field soon after. He described his early public relations work in New York City as "stunt PR", and it
87-570: A contract with MLE or Nathans and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with.” George Shea is married and has two children, a son and a daughter. His wife was a former producer for soap operas and now writes for the WWE . He currently lives in Brooklyn . Shea is a fan of the Brooklyn Nets . Major League Eating Major League Eating ( MLE )
116-546: A month before the Hot Dog Eating Contest. However, he does not memorize this entire script and mainly uses it for direction. As emcee, he has become known for his dramatic introductions as each of the competitive eaters take the stage. The Ringer (website) ranked his best introductions, labeling his 2015 speech welcoming Joey Chestnut on stage as number one: "In a world of nothing. Of barren hills and cracked earth and once-proud oceans drained to sand, there will still be
145-410: A monument to our existence. Bleached by the sun, perhaps, and blunted by time, but everlasting. Because this man represents all that is eternal in the human experience. … Through the curtain of the aurora, a comet blazes to herald his arrival, and his victory shall be transcribed into every language known to history, including Klingon. The Bratwurst, and Pierogi, and Hooters Chicken Wing eating champion of
174-647: A two-hour eating event on the Fox Network . The Alka-Seltzer U.S. Open of Competitive eating, a three-hour elimination tournament was a 2005 IFOCE production. In 2006, IFOCE produced three hours of programming on ESPN , including a one-hour live show on the 2005 Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest and one-hour shows on the Johnsonville Foods Bratwurst contest and the Krystal Hamburger contest. In addition, IFOCE produced four 30-minute shows under
203-463: A two-hour eating event on the Fox Network . The Alka-Seltzer U.S. Open of Competitive eating, a three-hour elimination tournament was a 2005 IFOCE production. In 2006, IFOCE produced three hours of programming on ESPN , including a one-hour live show on the 2005 Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest and one-hour shows on the Johnsonville Foods Bratwurst contest and the Krystal Hamburger contest. In addition, IFOCE produced four 30-minute shows under
232-409: A video where Eric Booker ate three live octopuses. Shea believes that any press is good press. The Washington Post even compared Shea to Donald Trump, writing, "Carman argues neither Shea nor Trump “[seem] to care much whether his words have a toehold in reality. To them, the victory is everything." In 2024, Shea announced that 16-time hot dog winner Joey Chestnut could not longer compete in
261-410: Is an organization that oversees professional competitive eating events and television specials. The league airs its annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest on ESPN . Brothers Richard and George Shea took over Nathan's publicity in the mid-1990s and were able to increase the exposure and attendance of Nathan's hot dog eating contest. Seeing a business opportunity,
290-577: The National Buffalo Wing Festival . The IFOCE was founded in 1997 by brothers George and Richard Shea. The IFOCE counts thousands of competitors in its league, including top-ranked eaters such as Joey Chestnut , Matt Stonie , Sonya Thomas , and Bob Shoudt .The IFOCE develops, promotes and runs more than one hundred events in all variety of venues during its annual circuit. The organization also produces television shows on competitive eating. In 2002, IFOCE produced The Glutton Bowl ,
319-455: The United States . The IFOCE maintains a ranking system for competitions it has sanctioned. IFOCE safety measures ensure that all sanctioned matches occur in a controlled environment under the supervision of a licensed emergency medical technician and that only individuals over the age of eighteen compete. The Mustard Yellow Belt is the organization's signature championship belt . The belt
SECTION 10
#1733084836026348-399: The United States . The IFOCE maintains a ranking system for competitions it has sanctioned. IFOCE safety measures ensure that all sanctioned matches occur in a controlled environment under the supervision of a licensed emergency medical technician and that only individuals over the age of eighteen compete. The Mustard Yellow Belt is the organization's signature championship belt . The belt
377-570: The "Mustard Belt", a championship, weightlifter's belt colored mustard yellow that was gifted to the champion. He amplified the rivalry between the United States and Japan in the competitive eating sphere. Shea also made the decision to begin referring to competitive eaters as athletes. To make the competitions more official, Shea made the decision in 2011 to create co-ed divisions. Shea did this to "conform to International Olympic Committee standards." Today, over 2 million people are estimated to watch
406-500: The July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2015. Chestnut reclaimed the title in 2016 and would go on to win until 2024 when he was banned from competing in that year's contest. The ESPN2 telecast of the 2014 Nathan's event generated a 1.6 rating and 2.8 million viewers, making it the most watched telecast in the contest's history. The ESPN2 airing also ranks as the 6th highest-rated and 5th most-watched telecast of
435-420: The July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2015. Chestnut reclaimed the title in 2016 and would go on to win until 2024 when he was banned from competing in that year's contest. The ESPN2 telecast of the 2014 Nathan's event generated a 1.6 rating and 2.8 million viewers, making it the most watched telecast in the contest's history. The ESPN2 airing also ranks as the 6th highest-rated and 5th most-watched telecast of
464-596: The United States and Canada. The International Federation of Competitive Eating, Inc. (IFOCE) is an organization that supervises and regulates eating contests across the globe, acting as a central resource for the sport. Top events include the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest , La Costeña "Feel the Heat" Jalapeño Eating Challenge, the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, and
493-446: The brothers founded International Federation of Competitive Eating ( IFOCE ) in 1997 as a sanctioning body to oversee, regulate, and organize events and TV deals. IFOCE's professional league became known as Major League Eating. Major League Eating coordinates events in the United States and Canada. The International Federation of Competitive Eating, Inc. (IFOCE) is an organization that supervises and regulates eating contests across
522-494: The competition after he signed a deal with a competitor hot dog company rather than Nathan's. Shea did not mention the specific brand, but said Chestnut was representing Impossible Foods , and that this was not allowed within the competition. Shea said if the contract dispute was resolved, he would be welcome to join the competition again, stating, "We love him. The fans love him. He made the choice." However, Chestnut pushed back on this claim, stating on social media, “I do not have
551-543: The driving force for promoting the event by creating wild introductions for the eaters. At some point early in his career, Shea created a media agency, Shea Communications. It specializes in real estate, events, and consumer-facing clients. His brother, Rich, is a partner in the company. In 1997, Shea officially founded International Federation of Competitive Eating and Major League Eating with his younger brother, Rich. It allowed him to bring competitive eating to different states and countries after gaining experience hosting
580-524: The event as it airs on ESPN . It is estimated that around 35,000 people come to Coney Island to see the competition live. Shea continues to host the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest and has turned to social media to publicize eating competitions. Major League Eating has contracted competitors that have found success on YouTube , such as Matt Stonie , to bring eyes to the concept of competitive eating and eating challenges. Shea says Major League Eating coordinated
609-740: The globe, acting as a central resource for the sport. Top events include the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest , La Costeña "Feel the Heat" Jalapeño Eating Challenge, the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, and the National Buffalo Wing Festival . The IFOCE was founded in 1997 by brothers George and Richard Shea. The IFOCE counts thousands of competitors in its league, including top-ranked eaters such as Joey Chestnut , Matt Stonie , Sonya Thomas , and Bob Shoudt .The IFOCE develops, promotes and runs more than one hundred events in all variety of venues during its annual circuit. The organization also produces television shows on competitive eating. In 2002, IFOCE produced The Glutton Bowl ,
SECTION 20
#1733084836026638-511: The hot dog contest. Today, Major League Eating hosts around 80 competitions every year. Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is the league's biggest competition. Once Shea and his brother took full control and ownership of running the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest, he became the Master of ceremonies for the Coney Island competition. According to Shea, he writes about 20-30 pages of a script more than
667-660: The title of Tour de Gorge and six 30-minute shows titled Eats of Strength for INHD. In 2007, IFOCE produced four one-hour programs for Spike TV under the title Chowdown. As of July 4, 2010 , the IFOCE was in a dispute with Takeru Kobayashi of Japan over whether competitors may also participate in contests not sanctioned by the IFOCE. Gonzo journalist Ryan Nerz emceed several competitions in 2003 to research while writing his book Eat This Book . The IFOCE maintains principal offices in New York City and operates in
696-554: The title of Tour de Gorge and six 30-minute shows titled Eats of Strength for INHD. In 2007, IFOCE produced four one-hour programs for Spike TV under the title Chowdown. As of July 4, 2010, the IFOCE was in a dispute with Takeru Kobayashi of Japan over whether competitors may also participate in contests not sanctioned by the IFOCE. Gonzo journalist Ryan Nerz emceed several competitions in 2003 to research while writing his book Eat This Book . The IFOCE maintains principal offices in New York City and operates in
725-548: The world, eight-time Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating champion of the world, the no. 1 eater in the world, I give you America itself, Joey Chestnut." His carnival-like on-stage character is just one way he has added personality to the event to generate publicity. For example, he created the Belt of fat theory and wrote a scientific paper regarding the subject. The paper was denied by The New England Journal of Medicine , but Shea says it put more eyes on competitive eating. Shea also created
754-499: The year on ESPN2, behind NCAA Football, the NBA and the World Cup. In 2020, the contest was forced to change its format due to the coronavirus pandemic . As a result, the ratings declined significantly, with the number of viewers dropping below 1 million, even though it was the first professional sport to return during the pandemic. George Shea (Major League Eating) George Shea is
783-617: Was rediscovered by IFOCE member Mike DeVito in 1993 after being lost for more than two decades in Japan . DeVito received the belt after winning an eating match against Japan's Orio Ito. The belt was restored by the Shea brothers and is now renowned in the competitive eating world. It was held by Takeru Kobayashi from 2001 to 2006, and then by Joey Chestnut since 2007. Chestnut held the Championship Belt for eight years until Matt Stonie beat him at
812-463: Was rediscovered by IFOCE member Mike DeVito in 1993 after being lost for more than two decades in Japan . DeVito received the belt after winning an eating match against Japan's Orio Ito. The belt was restored by the Shea brothers and is now renowned in the competitive eating world. It was held by Takeru Kobayashi from 2001 to 2006, and then by Joey Chestnut since 2007. Chestnut held the Championship Belt for eight years until Matt Stonie beat him at
841-424: Was what first introduced him to the Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest in Coney Island. He first attended the competition in 1988 and served as a judge. In 1991, Shea took over the Coney Island hot dog eating contest. He originally had the role of a press agent and was tasked with promoting the event. Back in the '90s, Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest was reportedly small and only had a few dozen spectators. Shea became
#25974