The organization that puts on the official Ironman triathlon event is proposing to bring the world-famous race to Traverse City annually beginning in 2019.

The World Triathlon Corporation and Traverse City Tourism will appear before city commissioners next Monday (August 6) to pitch a proposal for Traverse City to host its first annual Ironman 70.3 competition on Sunday, August 25, 2019. The event is anticipated to draw approximately 2,400 athletes and would include a 1.2-mile swim in West Grand Traverse Bay, a 56-mile bike ride on Leelanau Peninsula, and a 13.1-mile run (half-marathon) on Old Mission Peninsula.

Traverse City would become only the second city in Michigan to host an Ironman 70.3 event, also known as a Half Ironman, after Benton Harbor. The race is held in numerous other states, as well as locations around the world including Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Cozumel, and Sydney. According to Traverse City Tourism, the event would have an estimated local economic impact of $4.5-$6 million, with each race participant boasting an annual average household income of $247,000 and bringing an average of 2.5-3 guests with them during a race weekend.

“This event aligns really well with the brand of our region, which is about the outdoor lifestyle and accessibility to the natural beauty of our area through non-motorized transportation like biking, swimming, and running,” says Traverse City Tourism President/CEO Trevor Tkach. “To be able to showcase that internationally is something we thought had clear benefits for the community…and is something we’re willing to step up to the plate and help cover the costs for.”

Traverse City Tourism is offering to partner with the World Triathlon Corporation and cover all the permitting and city infrastructure costs – such as fire and police services – associated with holding Ironman in Traverse City. Tkach says the last weekend in August is an ideal time to host the race: Weather and water conditions are still warm for competitors, while hotels have availability due to area tourism dropping off as students – from K-12 to college – return to school.

“The end of August has been softening up, quite frankly, with more schools starting back up before Labor Day,” Tkach says. “Both vehicle and airline traffic is tapering off at the end of the month, so this presented itself as an opportunity. We’d never want (the race) to be on Labor Day weekend, but we’d like to see it held consistently on the weekend before Labor Day weekend each year.”

Tkach notes the high percentage of Ironman participants who travel from other states and countries to compete in 70.3 events could help extend direct airline flights later in the season between Traverse City and hubs such as Dallas, New York, and Atlanta. Cherry Capital Airport Director Kevin Klein confirms the proposed timing of the event “would be a great asset, because it is another thing to offer as an extension of the summer season as it’s winding down.” He adds: “The airport would be very excited for the Ironman contest to be here in our community.”

City Clerk Benjamin Marentette says he “spent a considerable amount of time” working with race organizers on the proposed Ironman schedule to “minimize street closure and park usage time frames” for the event. The race would require the closure of Clinch Park Marina to all water traffic from 5am-10am on event day, as well as set-up in the Open Space – which would hold spectator, registration, and vendor areas – during the week leading up to the race.

Marentette noted organizers are seeking a minimum two-year permit so they can recoup their investment and “create a lasting, annual event in Traverse City.”  The race would be considered a high-impact event, meaning that under the city’s festival policy, the Ironman race and the Traverse City Film Festival would be the only two major events allowed in the Open Space during the month of August. Sections of road and trail on Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas would also need to be closed on race day to accommodate bikers and runners. Race organizers plan to approach township and county officials in those jurisdictions, along with the Michigan Department of Transportation, to coordinate planning efforts after meeting with the Traverse City commission.

In downtown Traverse City, Front Street would be reduced to one lane between Park and Cass streets for a portion of the race weekend, and closed entirely on race day to accommodate the race finish line and spectator area. Downtown Development Authority CEO Jean Derenzy says she plans to seek input from retail and restaurant owners so she “can effectively relay their concerns” about road closures to race organizers, but notes Marentette “worked hard” to create a schedule that concentrates closures primarily on Sunday. Derenzy says she believes Ironman would be a “positive event” for downtown and the community.

“It’s helping promote a healthier image for the city, as well as the roundedness of (the offerings of) downtown,” she says. “We’ll be working with Traverse City Tourism and Ironman to try and figure out how to encourage people who are here for the event to spend their dollars downtown.”

Frank Lowery, Midwest regional director for Ironman, says Traverse City has “all the right components” to host a 70.3 event, from a large waterfront park ideal for hosting spectators to “beautiful” biking and running routes with scenic views to a “vibrant” downtown offering numerous restaurants and retail stores for participants and their families. He also points to local events like Iceman Cometh and the region’s active recreational scene as evidence “there’s a focus in the town on health and wellness” – another desirable attribute of host cities.

Lowery says that in addition to “putting heads in beds” – or filling hotel rooms – Ironman donates money back to race sites in the form of grants and donations to local nonprofits volunteering at the event. “For a typical 70.3 race, it can be anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000,” he says. Lowery says the condensed timeline proposed for event set-up and tear-down in Traverse City will likely add “some pressure” to planning efforts, but says Ironman hopes to work with the community to host a successful event.

“We consider this to be a long-term partnership with Traverse City,” Lowery says. “That’s our goal.”