Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Offers Buffet of PR Opportunities

Earlier today we explored how Ball Park Hot Dogs successfully used humor to promote their products during the July 4th week. Hot dogs are, after all, an all-American food item right up there with apple pie and 40-ounce sodas.

Now it’s time to give some PR love to Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, which today held the 98th Annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest. This spectacle is public relations perfection even when—especially when—things go wrong, whether that be questionable judges and contestants to the Takeru Kobayashi controversy which barred the popular champion for refusing to sign an exclusive contract with the event’s organizers.

The pinnacle of public relations occurs when a brand, product or event becomes part of the culture.

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