I just cant see Ironman leaving the World Championships in Kona every year going forward now.
Salt Lake City 2022 has 3597 starters.
Kona 2019 had 2129 starters overall.
Thats a massive difference in profits for Ironman.
If this year in Salt Lake is a success, which it most likely will be, I think what we will see is a rotation with it going back to Kona every few years. Ironman usually does a 3 yr contract with a location and then have the World Championships go back to Kona the 4th year.
Unless the 2 day format they are doing this year in Kona is a success. Then I guess Ironman would keep doing that.
But accommodation is always going to be an issue with large numbers racing in Kona.
Ironman would still need to run a race in Kona for age groupers when the WC isnt there, to keep the tradition going and allowing more "Slower" age groupers to keep racing. they could probably charge $2000 entry fee and still fill the race.
Id expect the expo to be massive in Salt Lake as everyone within the USA with that has something for the expo can just drive there, rather than get ripped off by hawaiian airlines and truck hire in Hawaii.
Some professionals also want it moved as Kona mainly suits the one type of athlete in general with the odd exception.
Guessing we will know by the end of the year.
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it doesnt matter what you say, someone on here will pick a fight over it.
Salt Lake City 2022 has 3597 starters.
Kona 2019 had 2129 starters overall.
Thats a massive difference in profits for Ironman.
If this year in Salt Lake is a success, which it most likely will be, I think what we will see is a rotation with it going back to Kona every few years. Ironman usually does a 3 yr contract with a location and then have the World Championships go back to Kona the 4th year.
Unless the 2 day format they are doing this year in Kona is a success. Then I guess Ironman would keep doing that.
But accommodation is always going to be an issue with large numbers racing in Kona.
Ironman would still need to run a race in Kona for age groupers when the WC isnt there, to keep the tradition going and allowing more "Slower" age groupers to keep racing. they could probably charge $2000 entry fee and still fill the race.
Id expect the expo to be massive in Salt Lake as everyone within the USA with that has something for the expo can just drive there, rather than get ripped off by hawaiian airlines and truck hire in Hawaii.
Some professionals also want it moved as Kona mainly suits the one type of athlete in general with the odd exception.
Guessing we will know by the end of the year.
------------------
it doesnt matter what you say, someone on here will pick a fight over it.