World-renowned competitive eating champion Joey Chestnut is on his way to AutoZone Park on Saturday, July 18, bringing one of the most recognizable personalities in sports and entertainment to downtown Memphis for a special night at the ballpark that will be capped off with postgame fireworks!
Chestnut, widely regarded as the greatest competitive eater of all time, is best known for his dominance at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, where he has captured a record 17 championships and set multiple world records throughout his career. Nicknamed Jaws, Chestnut has become a global sports entertainment figure thanks to his record-breaking performances, including his iconic 76-hot-dog world record and victories across a wide range of sanctioned eating competitions. His sustained excellence, national television presence, and larger-than-life competitive persona have made him one of the most recognizable champions in competitive sports and live event entertainment.
Additional details surrounding promotions, meet & greet opportunities, and additional event activations for Saturday, July 18, 2026, will be announced at a later date.
World-renowned competitive eating champion Joey Chestnut is on his way to AutoZone Park to compete against local fans in a competitive eating competition.
To earn the right to compete against the best competitive eater of all time, fans have the chance to compete in one of three preliminary contests after a Memphis Redbirds game. The eating contests are scheduled to take place after the final out on July 2, July 3 and July 4. Fans can enter to win a spot in the preliminary contests here.
The winner of each preliminary contest will earn the right to eat against Joey Chestnut at the Memphis Redbirds game on Saturday, July 18. Each winner will be paired with a local Memphis celebrity to attempt to dethrone the best competitive eater of all time.
Preliminary Contests:
- Thursday July 2 – 10 inch Cheese Pizza, presented by ExLines Pizza
- Friday, July 3 – Memphis Sliders, presented by Slider Inn
- Saturday, July 4 – Grandma's Meatballs, presented by Aldo’s Pizza Pies