Ironman event sold, not leaving Lake Placid

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June 6, 2009

No indication event leaving Lake Placid

By KIM SMITH DEDAM The Press Republican Fri May 14, 2010, 08:02 PM EDT

LAKE PLACID — Ironman Lake Placid has been sold to franchise owner World Triathlon Corp., along with six other races throughout the continental United States.

"In terms of race structure, not a lot has changed," said Helen Manning, an Ironman spokeswoman based in Ontario.

"Race directors have remained the same, and most of the race operations staff have stayed with the event."

The deal made earlier this year with Ironman promoter Graham Fraser was private, and Manning would not comment on the sale price.

LOYAL TO PLACID
World Triathlon has given no indication that it will move the race out of Lake Placid, she said.

"Lake Placid was the first in the states, so it has that moniker which makes it very special."

Now in its 11th year, the Ironman event draws 2,200 athletes for slots that sell out within two hours the day after the race ends.

COSTLY FOR POLICE
But the 18-hour race has hit a snag in police cost overruns.

New York State Police last year paid $52,658 in overtime costs for Ironman weekend, according to Troop B Commander Maj. Richard Smith Jr.

They have no agreement in place to be reimbursed.

"We have never received one dime in 10 years," Smith said. "Ironman is the single biggest overtime-producing event in the troop."

Some 90 State Police officers are required at the "bare minimum," he said, to monitor two-way run/bike and vehicle traffic along the race circuit, which travels from Lake Placid through the towns of North Elba, Keene, Jay and Wilmington.

PAYMENT REQUESTED
Using last year's overtime as a benchmark, Smith asked event organizers to pay 50 percent of that cost this year, or about $26,500, increasing the payment to 75 percent in 2010 and to 100 percent in 2011.

"This in not an event run in a New York state park, and it is for profit," Smith said.

Cost overruns are challenging in the current economy.

"It became a budgetary issue, in terms of New York state fiscal situation," said Jeff Edwards, Lake Placid Ironman race director, who acknowledged the key role State Police have in coordinating course safety.

"Race agreements can vary considerably, but they do typically include some services, the theory being that communities are willing to extend some form of services in an effort to attract large events."

TOURISM BOOST
The Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau estimates Ironman nets $375,000 in sales-tax revenue for Essex County alone.

"It is not a one-day activity," said spokesman Jon Lundin. "We're looking at direct spending of about $10 million, including lodging, meals, shopping and recreational activities."

Other Lake Placid events held by the Olympic Regional Development Authority don't pay for police coverage.

"We don't (pay police), and for one reason — we have an annual meeting with State Police and local police where we walk through the schedule we have going out 10 months, and let them know the level of the event and the number of spectators we're expecting."

ORDA events don't disrupt highway and traffic patterns.

"We increase the traffic flow," Goff said.

And ORDA provides staff, posting guards at road crossings and other pedestrian traffic areas.

OTHERS PAY
Ironman-licensed events around the United States do pay for police, according to race directors contacted by the Press-Republican.

"Normally, in our case, we use sheriff reserves at a cost between $20 and $40 per hour. But I'm a half and not a full marathon," said Mike Greer, race director in Lubbock, Texas.

Greer staged an Iron Girl race in Dallas for three years but closed it this year due to police costs.

"One reason we did not renew our Iron Girl contract was because of Dallas police costs of about $13,000. And it was a sprint, the race lasted about two and a half hours. When you got right down to it, (police cost) was a deal breaker."

In Columbia, Maryland, the Ironman-licensed Eagle Man half-triathlon pays police, said Race Director Robert Vigorito.

"If you put a race anywhere it the country, by and large, because it's outside the normal scope of duty, the police are going to charge," he said.

"What we're trying to do is find an equitable solution for everyone involved," Lundin said.

"Moving forward, Ironman has a strong future here."

E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com