FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Ironman Group Announces It Will Not Host Any Further Events
in The United States During 2020
- Three events scheduled for this past weekend cancelled due to
acceleration of COVID-19 pandemic
- IRONMAN 70.3 Florida in Haines City cancelled with no other events to be
rescheduled for remainder of 2020
TAMPA, Fla. (November 23, 2020) – It was announced today that for the
remainder of 2020, the IRONMAN Group will not host any further events in
the United States leading to the cancelation of IRONMAN® 70.3® Florida
triathlon in Haines City. Additionally, no other events will be rescheduled
during 2020.
Over the past two weeks the surge of COVID-19 infections in key event
locations has led to the cancellation of events in Arizona (IRONMAN
Arizona, Rock 'n' Roll Arizona), Florida (IRONMAN 70.3 Florida – Haines
City), Tennessee (Rock 'n' Roll Nashville), and Texas (IRONMAN 70.3 Texas –
Galveston, Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio).
Despite having safe and successful events in some of those locations just
weeks prior, the dramatic shift of conditions particularly in Arizona,
Florida and Texas has changed the ability to responsibly host events.
"With COVID-19 infections on the rise around the United States, we are not
comfortable hosting any further events in 2020,” said Andrew Messick,
President & CEO for the IRONMAN Group. "While we remain confident that our
Safe Return to Racing Guidelines will protect athletes, volunteers and
staff, the public health environment at this moment is not conducive to any
type of mass gatherings. We expect to be back in action for 2021 with
events that follow guidelines and recommendations consistent with the
expectations set by public health entities and our race communities.”
In 2020, The IRONMAN Group launched virtual racing opportunities through
IRONMAN Virtual Club and Rock 'n' Roll Virtual Running Club platforms as a
way to help bring the communities together and allow for athletes to be
able to maintain the structure and continuity that training, and
competition provides while physical events were not possible. These racing
options remain free and available for people all over the world. To date,
the virtual club platforms have seen participation from over a half a
million athletes from 190 nations for one of the 62 IRONMAN VR or Rock 'n'
Roll VR races.
For more information on the IRONMAN brand and global event series, visit
www.ironman.com.
About The IRONMAN Group
The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the
IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, the
IRONMAN® Virtual Racing™ (VR™) Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock 'n'
Roll Marathon Series®, the Rock 'n' Roll Virtual Running™ Series,
IRONKIDS®, ITU World Triathlon Series, premier running events including the
Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and The Sun-Herald City2Surf®,
Ultra-Trail® World Tour events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail
Australia™, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, road cycling
events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest
operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a
million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the
company's vast offerings. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand
and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS
POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single
race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with
hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by
Advance, a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit
www.ironman.com.
About Advance
Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in
companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications,
education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the
value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and
innovation. Advance's portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage
Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders
Group, Turnitin, 1010data and Pop. Together these operating companies
employ more than 17,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the
largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Discovery and Reddit. For
more information visit www.advance.com.
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