Bringing the Ironman 70.3 back to Huntsville could be a first step to eventually hosting the full Ironman here once again, according to Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison.
One day we could maybe bring back a full Ironman. Maybe one day we’ll have a Destination Marketing Fee in place that could help support some of these events and make sure they are feasible. Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison
On Tuesday, March 29, Council agreed to enter into a hosting agreement with Trisport Events Inc. The agreement will be effective for the next two years with a third year renewal option. It commits the Town to paying a $25,000 licensing fee for each year of the event and an additional $25,000 in cash or Value in Kind. VIK contributions include things like gift cards, food, water, MTO permit fees or services such as OPP and ambulance/EMS presence, as well as busing and portable potties.
The Town will contract the services of the former GM for the full Ironman, Myke Malone. His contract will run from April 1 to July 31, 2016, only for the first year of the event, at a cost of about $10,000.
“The idea of keeping Myke on board in part was because of course we had a three year deal with Myke that got cancelled and also to provide some continuity. He’s been doing some work with some of our multi-year sponsors from the full Ironman to bring them back on board for the half Ironman,” said Aitchison. He’s hoping the prequel preparations for this July’s event will enable the management reins to be handed off to a volunteer group for next year’s Ironman.
Ultimately I’d like to have the 70.3 operated by a volunteer group – whether it’s Tri Muskoka or not, I don’t know – and with support from the Town. Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison
At Tuesday’s Council a motion put forward by Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano, who expressed concern with spending more unbudgeted funds from the Town’s reserves, would have seen the Town’s contribution limited to $25,000 but it was ultimately defeated for fear of losing the event altogether.
The half Ironman is scheduled to take place this summer, July 10. Council has also appointed a committee to plan and organize ancillary events in conjunction with the Ironman 70.3 Muskoka. The group will be comprised of the following community members:
Mandy Davis – Ancillary Events Chair
Myke Malone – GM & Sponsorship
Terri Tebby – Chamber of Commerce representative
Scott Ovell – Town of Huntsville representative
Brian Haywood
Peter Redwood – Rotary representative
Anna Collins – Ancillary Events Co-Chair
Jan Pyear
Brent Ellerson
Karen Litchfield
Nicola Biggs
Roland Cilliers – Media
Kati Strickland
Melissa Candelaria – Media
I’d like to echo Dave’s comments. Thank you Don for all your contributions to sporting events in Huntsville. We know that the New York Marathon is the biggest money maker in that city, and the sporting events in Huntsville serve likewise. I wish Frances that you could have been one of the many volunteers for the ironman last year. You could have shared in the pride we all felt for our community. And you would have seen firsthand the money that poured into Huntsville’s restaurants, stores and hotels. Huntsville looked great on the world stage!
Don McCormick and the many volunteers who have worked for 20 years to make the Triathlon and Ironman races a success deserve a heart-felt “Thank you!” from the Huntsville Community.
Literally thousands of racers and their families have come to Huntsville for the several races held annually . I wonder if some wise person could calculate the amount of tourist dollars spent locally as a result?
What about all the money that the triathletes and their supporters bring into the town that go into the pockets of local people paying those taxes. While I can appreciate your point and don’t necessarily disagree with it that is only one small part of the whole story. Your point, in my opinion, is overly simplistic. I would hate to think that the 20 years I have spent promoting and helping to organize triathlons and other sporting events in the community have had the only impact you focus on.
When I hear Ironman in Huntsville mentioned, immediately comes to mind more money sucked out of our public coffers and when the accounting is done and settled, if the past is a trend, there will be more money wriiitten off or spent as well, accompanied by the same old excuses.