Augusta expected to reap economic boost from Ironman triathlon
Photo / Pliable Marketing
Athlete check-in for the Ironman 70.3 Maine triathlon in Augusta starts today at the Ironman Village expo at the YMCA Athletic Fields off of Union Street.
Augusta is gearing up for Sunday's Ironman triathlon and all the economic perks that go with an international sporting event of its kind.
More than 1,700 athletes from 13 countries and 48 states are expected to compete in Ironman 70.3 Maine, according to the Tampa, Fla.-based Ironman Group, which claims to be the world's largest operator of mass participation sports.
While Old Orchard Beach hosted the Ironman 70.3 Maine in 2017, this is the first year that Augusta will stage the event.
Matt Lewis, president and CEO of HospitalityMaine, reports excitement and enthusiasm for the event from several local contacts, including local hotels he says have been booked for months.
"Economic impact will be strong for Augusta, as well as surrounding cities — Hallowell, Gardiner, Waterville — even in the Brunswick-Bath area," he said. "HospitalityMaine is thrilled to see the Ironman in Augusta. Augusta is a wonderful city to welcome these participants and their families and supporters."
A spokesperson for Ironman Group said the estimated economic impact on host regions is $5 million to $7 million, which on the high end would be more than $4,000 per athlete.
But Phoenix Mourning-Star, a Waterville-based economic development expert and professional triathlon coach, gives a more conservative estimate for the economic impact on Maine's capital city, which has a population of 18,622.
Mourning-Star reckons that Sunday's event could bring anywhere between $2 million to $3.5 million to the regional economy.
He bases that figure on more than $4 million that a double-race event brought to Muncie, Ind., in 2021. He also bases his estimate on each athlete bringing an average of 3.8 friends and family members to the event. He athletes make a vacation of it, extending their stay to four to six nights.
"I don't want to brag, but Maine is by far more enticing to athletes than Indiana," he quipped.
Sunday's Ironman 70.3-mile event features a 1.2-mile downriver swim in the Kennebec River, 56 miles of rolling hills by bicycle and a 13.1-mile run along the treelined Kennebec River Trail, with a finish in downtown Augusta.
Race weekend kicks off today with athlete check-ins at the Ironman Village expo at the YMCA Athletic Fields off of Union Street.
Keith Luke, Augusta's economic development director, looks forward to showcasing Maine's capital to triathletes and others this weekend.
"We are focused on providing the Ironman organizers, competitors and spectators with an outstanding experience in the capital city," he told Mainebiz. "We want everyone excited about returning next year. We also hope the event helps showcase the city as an ideal and affordable jumping off point for other Maine adventures, whether it’s the midcoast, Acadia National Park, Lakes Region or mountains."
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