For Ironman New York City, A Hefty Entry Fee

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With an entry fee looming around $1,000, Ironman New York City may be the world’s most expensive race. Tell us your thoughts on the fee in today’s Triathlete.com poll by clicking here.

New York’s inaugural Ironman could cost as much as $1,000 to enter, making it the world’s most- expensive triathlon.

Officials at World Triathlon Corp., Ironman’s parent company, said they’ll have to spend “several million” dollars on permits, law enforcement, medical personnel and other race- related expenses for next year’s endurance event.

“We’re still in the process of getting in all of the final bids and contracts,” Steve Meckfessel, chief operating officer of World Triathlon, said in an interview.

World Triathlon yesterday said the 140.6-mile (226.2- kilometer) competition will be held in the New York metropolitan area on Aug. 11, 2012. Athletes will race through parts of New York City and suburbs in New York and New Jersey.

In addition to permitting expenses, organizers plan to lease six barges to be placed in the Hudson River to be used for the start of the 2.4-mile swim portion. A platform will also be constructed across the river to enable swimmers to exit the water and begin the 112-mile bike leg in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Costs will exceed those at other Ironman events, such as the World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, and the European Championship in Frankfurt, Germany, Meckfessel said. An entry fee for a typical Ironman event is $575.

“$750 is certainly a given,” Meckfessel said. “Most of our prices worldwide are about $600. It’s going to be higher than that.”

Read more: Bloomberg News

See also – It’s Official: NYC To Host Ironman In 2012

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