Come one, come all for the great hot dog-eating contest at Busch Stadium
ST. LOUIS -- Do you enjoy hot dogs at the old ballyard? If so, how many do you think you could eat in 10 minutes? Five? 10? 69!?!
Well, loosen up that belt and channel your inner Kobayashi, friend, because the St. Louis Cardinals have the opportunity of a ... well, it is an opportunity for you, oh gluttonous one.
The Cardinals will host an official Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifying Event at Busch Stadium prior to the 1:15 p.m. game against Detroit on May 16.
Because America. And because nobody wants to see the world's greatest salad eater.
The Busch Stadium event is part of a nationwide multi-event qualifying circuit, and the top male and female finisher will earn a spot to compete in the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island on July 4.
According to a press release issued by the Cardinals, the 10-minute, all-you-can-eat contest qualifier at Busch will take place May 16 at noon in Ford Plaza and feature top-ranked eaters including Juan "More Bite" Rodriguez, Matthew Raible and defending women's champ Marlene Wigginton. Reigning international champion Joey Chestnut will be on hand to oversee the competition festivities. Chestnut currently holds the world record for eating 69 Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs and buns in 10 minutes, and will seek his ninth straight title this year.
Still interested? Good. Here's how to enter.
Simply tweet the reason why you, the person who wants to stuff face with as many glorious hot dogs as possible, want and/or deserve the opportunity to participate in the contest using the hashtag #MajorLeagueAppetite. Voting is live and runs until May 14 at 11:59 p.m. CT. The best two eligible entries will be selected to win. Each winner receives two (winner + guest) home field box tickets to Saturday's game and will participate in the pregame qualifier. Fans must be 18 years of age or older and within the Cardinals' home television territory to enter. Transportation not included. See official rules for details.
If gorging yourself with copious amounts of hot dog isn't appealing, just search #MajorLeagueAppetite on Twitter and enjoy. Winners will be announced Thursday.
For tickets to Saturday's game, and the opportunity to watch the pregame hot dog-eating contest in person, visit cardinals.com/tickets.
You can follow Jase Bandelow on Twitter at @JASEBANDELOW or email him at jase.bandelow@foxsports.net.
