IRONMAN Wisconsin Heads to Madison for September 9 Event

MADISON, Wisc.,— IRONMAN and
the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Madison Area
Sports Commission have extended the contract to host IRONMAN Wisconsin in
Madison through 2021. This year’s event takes place on September 9, 2018.

“We
are thrilled to continue this popular and incredibly scenic race in the series
of global events,” said Frank Lowery, Regional Director for IRONMAN. “We have
had a great partnership with the city of Madison and look forward to continuing
working together to produce quality events. We know that our athletes truly
enjoy accomplishing their dreams at the state capital in Wisconsin and have
come to expect the world-class experience that this race continuously offers
for years to come.”

IRONMAN
Wisconsin has consistently placed high among athletes surveyed in the annual
IRONMAN Athlete’s Choice Awards, ranking 2nd in 2016 and 1st in 2017 in Best
Host City Experience. In 2016, the event tied for 1st in the best Overall Run,
9th in Overall Satisfaction, 10th in Best Race Venue, 9th in Best Post Race
Experience and 8th in the Will Recommend to a Friend category. In 2017, the
race was also selected 2nd in Overall Satisfaction, tied for 2nd in Best
Restaurants, selected 3rd in Best Race Venue, topping in nearly every category
from the year before.

Nearly
2,500 athletes representing 27 countries and 48 US states registered for the
2017 event and approximately 25,000 spectators attended the race. Each year,
nearly 4,000 people from Madison and throughout Dane County volunteer to help
with the event, and its economic impact reportedly exceeds US$4 million.

The
IRONMAN Foundation provided over US$80,000 in 2017 in grant funding to local
groups including a US$35,000 grant to the Madison Area Sports Commission to
support the programming of Dane County youth organizations that connect
children to sports activities.

“IRONMAN
Wisconsin has become a Madison tradition and part of the fabric of our
community,” said Deb Archer, President and CEO of the Madison Area Sports
Commission and the Greater Madison Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “The
enthusiastic way we welcome athletes and guests from around the world has
resulted in Madison being named the Best Host City for all IRONMAN events.
Extending our relationship with IRONMAN WI is great for Madison and the IRONMAN
athletes who love to come here.”

“Monona
Terrace is proud to have served as the long-standing home base for IRONMAN
Wisconsin for the past 16 years,” added Gregg McManners, Executive Director,
Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center. “The energy and passion these
outstanding athletes bring to Madison each year are an inspiration to all of
us. We are honored to be a focal point of the race, which is home to both the
athletes and thousands of spectators.”

This
year’s IRONMAN Wisconsin takes place on September 9, 2018. The race consists of
a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout Madison and its
surrounding areas. The swim will take place in Lake Monona, while the two-loop
bike course will wind through rural Dane County, offering challenging hills and
tough climbs. The two-loop run course will take athletes through scenic
downtown Madison and the University of Wisconsin campus, offering spectator
support and a finish in front of the capitol building.

The
event will offer 40 age-group qualifying slots to the 2019 IRONMAN World
Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i.

For
more information visit www.visitmadison.com or www.ironman.com.