Amateurs Only: Wing Bowl 17 to Exclude Professional Eaters
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Joey Chestnut, a professional competitive eater, won 2008's Wing Bowl by downing 241 wings.
WIP radio host Angelo Cataldi announced Dec. 1 that the next Wing Bowl, Philly’s annual wing-eating contest that attracts a bigger, rowdier tailgating crowd than some Eagles games, will return to its original form and be open to only local, amateur competitors.
During his show, Cataldi said he wanted to do something "drastic" for Wing Bowl 2009.
The change will likely have a significant effect on the outcome of the Jan. 30 event. Many of the competition’s recent winners (Joey Chestnut, Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas, Bill “El Wingador” Simmons) were professional competitive eaters.
Tickets for Wing Bowl 2009 will go on sale through ComcastTix.com Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. Last year, 25,000 fans attended the competition—many arriving to tailgate before sunrise.
Posted Friday, Jul 17, 2009 - 11:56 AM EST
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