Ironman - Market saturation or decline?

Jorgan · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 2:12 pm Post subject:

The 2019 Barcelona event is sold out, so a bit moot at the moment! Draftfests sell-out every time Very Happy

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Poet. · Joined: 06 Aug 2013 Posts: 390

mattsurf · Joined: 28 Sep 2016 Posts: 852 Location: Zug, Switzerland

Many 70.3 events are already sold out this year.

Greece, Mallorca, Rapperswil, Luxembourg, Les Sables d'Olonne

This could be due to the 70.3 WC in Nice, and many dreamers (like me) trying to qualify

I can also see that many of the full IM events are also sold out, Nice, Frankfurt, Barcelona etc

Has the sport reached saturation, I don't think so. Ironman has created a market for One and Done competitors, which I feel does devalue the sport, and makes it very difficult for non IM branded races to succeed

Yes and Ironman is expensive, however, the cost of the race for many people is just a small component when you consider the cost of 9 months+ coaching, airfairs, hotel, equipment, nutrition and supplements that you MUST take when training, subscriptions to Zwift, Strava, Training Peaks, Trainer Road, the latest Turbo Trainer and on and on

Jorgan · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 2:51 pm Post subject:

Buzz_ · Joined: 19 May 2007 Posts: 453

If ease and cost of logistics is your primary concern, then surely go for IMUK or Wales? Flight to Barcelona might be £60, but you still have to drive to the airport, pay for parking, taxi / hire a car in Spain. Bolton logistics are going to be easier and cheaper.

Weather should be better, although there have been some pretty rough races in the Balearics the last few years. Family might be easier to get on board, and obviously it’s a faster course, so more chance of bagging (bragging?) a 9 Mad

x:xx

Jorgan · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 3:02 pm Post subject:

stenard · Joined: 04 Sep 2013 Posts: 2063

Poet. · Joined: 06 Aug 2013 Posts: 390

Cheers stenard, that’s something to mull over for me.

(Though driving the 20 minutes to Bolton will probably win)

Jorgan · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:36 pm Post subject:

Poet. · Joined: 06 Aug 2013 Posts: 390

Jorgan · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 9:55 am Post subject:

stenard · Joined: 04 Sep 2013 Posts: 2063

I know it wasn't in your original time period Jorgan, but Wales has now sold out as well. That's c8 months ahead of when it sold out last year!

That's a big surprise to me, and would suggest no decline at all. It also can't be people looking for an "easy" way to getting a tat.
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SGreg · Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 1112 Location: High Peak

Jorgan · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:05 am Post subject:

Regarding Tenby. A few points:

- Iconic event with great support.
- Domestic entries up due to travel costs and Brexit uncertainty.
- It's one event, not a trend.
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