IRONMAN announces Frankfort, Michigan as new host city for IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan Triathlon

December 3, 2020

- General Registration to open Dec. 21, 2020 for new IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan event at www.ironman.com/im703-michigan

FRANKFORT, Mich. / TAMPA, Fla.(December 3, 2020) – The IRONMAN Group announced today that Frankfort, Michigan will serve as a multi-year host venue for the IRONMAN^®70.3^® Michigan triathlon, relocating from Traverse City. The IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan triathlon will take place on Sunday, September 12, 2021. General registration for the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan triathlon will open on Monday, December 21, at www.ironman.com/im703-michigan.

“Following in the success of bringing an event to Traverse City a couple years ago, we’ve seen an incredible interest from athletes to visit and race in northern Michigan. We are excited to continue to host an event in this beautiful region and to call Frankfort our new home,” said Keats McGonigal, Head of Operations, North America for The IRONMAN Group. “We feel that Frankfort and the surrounding areas will deliver an unparalleled race week experience while being the perfect destination for both athletes and their families alike.”

Frankfort sits along the shores of Lake Michigan in one of the most beautiful parts of Michigan. Located 40 miles from Traverse City, Frankfort is known for its spectacular sunsets, unbelievable views from the pier and charming life on Main Street, and is an uncharted resort town that offers a perfect beach getaway for visitors of all ages.

“We can’t wait to welcome IRONMAN 70.3 back to northern Michigan,” says Trevor Tkach, CEO and President of Traverse City Tourism. “Our organization is honored to continue to support the race and the athletes who train for this incredible feat. The new course will be an exciting change for athletes, and spectators will be able to enjoy exploring the beautiful town of Frankfort in addition to the surrounding Traverse City region.”

The inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan triathlon is taking place on Sunday, September 12, 2021, and will consist of a 1.2-mile swim in the beautiful and protected water of the Frankfort Harbor. Once out of the water, athletes will transition to the bike for a 56-mile ride on sections of the famous M-22 scenic highway. Concluding their IRONMAN 70.3 journey, athletes will run 13.1 miles in Frankfort and surrounding areas. Additional course details will be shared as soon as they are available by visiting, www.ironman.com/im703-michigan.

For more information on IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan, please visit www.ironman.com/im703-michigan. For more information on the IRONMAN brand and global event series, visit www.ironman.com. Media inquiries may be directed to press@ironman.com.

###

About Frankfort, Michigan

Found on the shores of Lake Michigan in Benzie County, Frankfort, MI, offers an unparalleled beach town experience. From historic lighthouses to Main Street’s acclaimed food, drink, and boutique shopping, endless attractions await. The area’s golden sand dunes, pristine beaches, and access to northern Michigan trails and preserves offer year-round recreation. Learn more at traversecity.com/benzie-county.

Traverse City Tourism

Traverse City Tourism is a nonprofit corporation that serves as the area’s official destination marketing organization. Traverse City Tourism works to enhance, reinforce, and develop the northern Michigan brand for potential visitors through advertising, marketing, trade shows, publications, sales missions, media relations, and Visitor Center services. Its experienced and knowledgeable team members are motivated by pride for their community and a desire to advance its economic well-being without sacrificing the values that make it a pretty great place. For details on lodging, attractions, and area events, visit traversecity.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 (www.advance.com), 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.