Tulsa to be Host of New IRONMAN Triathlon | Sports Destination Management

Tulsa to be Host of New IRONMAN Triathlon

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Jun 13, 2019

IRONMAN, a Wanda Sports Group company, is pleased to announce that Tulsa, Oklahoma has been selected as a multi-year host venue for a brand-new IRONMAN® triathlon. IRONMAN is also excited to announce that Certified Piedmontese Beef will serve as the title partner for the new triathlon taking place on May 31, 2020. General registration for the inaugural Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN Tulsa triathlon will open on Wednesday, June 19, with more information available at www.ironman.com/tulsa.

Since the beginning of the year, IRONMAN has undergone a rigorous process to identify a host venue in the central United States for a new IRONMAN triathlon. On April 18, it was narrowed down to four host-city finalists, including, Des Moines, Iowa; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Tulsa, Oklahoma. IRONMAN officials made multiple site visits to each location connecting with city officials and the local community to determine the viability of each potential market while viewing areas where a race could be held. Each of the four premier cities had a great deal to offer athletes and spectators alike in their bids to host the IRONMAN triathlon event in 2020, with Tulsa ultimately prevailing.

“We are very excited to welcome Tulsa, Oklahoma to the IRONMAN `Ohana,” said Shane Facteau, Chief Operating Officer for The IRONMAN Group. “When we started this process, our goal was to identify cities in this region that could host an event and would bring a fresh offering while providing athletes a world-class experience. We were blown away by the response and potential of all four finalist cities, each of whom made a strong case. Ultimately, we felt that Tulsa is the right place for the first new IRONMAN triathlon added in the United States since 2014. We are encouraged by the possible venues that Tulsa and the surrounding areas offer, including the beautiful Keystone Harbor in Mannford, Oklahoma and Guthrie Green in downtown as we create an enjoyable experience for athletes and support crews. We look forward to a great future in Tulsa and the potential that continues to exist for additional opportunities within the other finalist communities.”

Situated on the Arkansas River between the Osage Hills and the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in northeast Oklahoma, Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state. It boasts a wide variety of attractions, including Gathering Place (the largest privately funded public park in the country), Philbrook and Gilcrease museums, the Tulsa Zoo, and the Oklahoma Aquarium. Visitors can also enjoy professional baseball and soccer at the downtown stadium, ONEOK Field. Tulsa is known as a barbeque town but also boasts James Beard award-winning seafood and internationally renowned craft beer. The city prides itself on offering big-city experiences in a completely different way: no huge crowds, no big attitudes, just plenty to do for you and your whole group.

“Tulsa proudly accepts its place as the newest host city for an IRONMAN event, standing among other elite cities globally,” said Ray Hoyt, President for VisitTulsa, Tulsa Sports Commission, Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture. “This opportunity further validates our reemergence as a world-class city. Once the Oil Capital of the World, Tulsa is filled with strong visionaries who have helped build an international model for outdoor recreation, arts and tourism. Like the athletes we look forward to welcoming in 2020, we aim to inspire and perform at the highest level. We are grateful for our partners and would also like to recognize the invested hoteliers and board members of the newly formed Tulsa Tourism Improvement District #1, whom provided marketing and event service funds toward this successful bid. Congratulations to all involved in making Tulsa an inspiration destination.”

The 2020 Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN Tulsa triathlon taking place on Sunday, May 31, 2020 will begin with a rolling start format. The 2.4-mile swim will take place in Keystone Lake in Mannford, Okla. where the water temperatures are generally in the low to mid-70 degrees. Once out of the water, athletes will embark on a 112-mile scenic bike tour of the surrounding Tulsa area, including portions of Osage, Creek and Tulsa County.  Athletes will have the opportunity to ride portions of the Osage Hills and experience the lush green terrain that make up the “Green Country” of northeastern Okla.  Athletes will be challenged with plenty of rolling hills before finishing in downtown Tulsa at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa campus. Once off the bike, athletes will start the 26.2-mile run leg of the event. The run course begins at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa campus and make its way through historic vibrant downtown Tulsa to the River Parks Trail System.  Runners will have flat and fast views of the Arkansas River as they make their way down past Tulsa’s Gathering Place and back to downtown to finish at the beautiful Guthrie Green. 

General registration for 2020 Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN Tulsa triathlon will open on Wednesday, June 19. The 2020 Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN Tulsa triathlon will offer 40 age-group qualifying slots to the 2020 IRONMAN World Championship taking place in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i. A professional prize purse will be published at a later date.

Certified Piedmontese Beef joins the IRONMAN Tulsa herd as title sponsor of the inaugural race: As the Official Beef Sponsor of the IRONMAN U.S. series, Certified Piedmontese Beef will expand their partnership with IRONMAN to sponsor the first-ever IRONMAN Tulsa triathlon. Certified Piedmontese beef is a naturally lean and nutritious beef that’s low in fat and calories yet high in protein, providing IRONMAN athletes and their families with a healthier beef option. Originating from the Piedmont region of Italy, the breed was first introduced to North America in the 1970s; today, the cattle are raised by select family ranchers across the Great Plains. Certified Piedmontese cattle are raised through a ranch-to-fork approach that ensures traceability, environmental sustainability, humane animal handling, and responsible resource management at every step. Certified Piedmontese beef is verified all natural, which means the cattle are never given antibiotics, steroids, or hormones. Countless athletes across the country rave about the exceptional quality and nutritional profile of Certified Piedmontese beef.

“Certified Piedmontese Beef is proud to partner with IRONMAN to bring this event to the Tulsa community. Our beef provides athletes an ideal source of protein, and we’re looking forward to fueling these incredible athletes’ journey to the IRONMAN Tulsa finish line,” said Shane Peed, General Manager of Certified Piedmontese beef.

To kick-off the title partnership and show their commitment to Tulsa, Certified Piedmontese Beef has teamed up with the IRONMAN Foundation to donate 2,000 pounds of frozen Certified Piedmontese ground beef to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

IRONMAN will also begin with charitable activity through the IRONMAN Foundation which will present a grant award for $10,000 to the Disaster Relief Fund for Eastern Oklahoma, a program of the Tulsa Community Foundation and Tulsa Area United Way to support local flood recovery efforts. At the 2020 Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN Tulsa, the IRONMAN Foundation will award additional grant funding to support long-term recovery efforts and provide a hands-on service project opportunity for athletes, as well as their families and friends. Athletes who race the Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN Tulsa on TEAM IMF will specifically help support these local efforts.

For more information on the 2020 Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN Tulsa triathlon, visit www.ironman.com/tulsa. For more information on the IRONMAN brand and global event series, visit www.ironman.com. Athlete inquiries can be directed to tulsa@ironman.com. Media may contact press@ironman.com.

About Tulsa: Geographically, Tulsa sits at the crossroads of America. Metaphorically, it is the crossroads of America. From Art Deco masterpieces of the roaring ‘20s to miles of open road along Route 66 to three of the largest tribal nations in the country, northeast Oklahoma is a region with an authentically American heritage. It’s a destination for outdoors enthusiasts and adventure seekers, with thousands of miles of shoreline, the headquarters of USA BMX and the country’s largest privately funded public park, Gathering Place. As the home to a storied local music scene and the archives of Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, Tulsa is quickly becoming the Americana capital of the world. Tulsa is a community that inspires. Find your inspiration at www.visittulsa.com.

About Certified Piedmontese Beef: Exceptionally lean and incredibly tender, Certified Piedmontese Beef provides consumers and chefs with a healthier beef option without sacrificing flavor. Certified Piedmontese cattle are each DNA tested to confirm their unique heritage. Not only is the beef much lower in fat, Certified Piedmontese cattle are never given antibiotics or steroids. This rare breed is raised through a ranch-to-fork approach that ensures traceability, environmental sustainability, humane animal handling, and responsible resource management at every step. For more information, visit www.piedmontese.com.

About the IRONMAN Foundation: The IRONMAN Foundation creates positive, tangible change in race communities by engaging athletes and volunteers to participate in programs that demonstrate service through sport and commitment to community. Since 2003, over $50,000,000 has been provided through IRONMAN®?charitable giveback programs including the IRONMAN?Foundation to more than 8,300 local, regional, national and global nonprofit initiatives. Through these partnerships, IRONMAN and Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series® athletes are powerfully linked to the community and together we leave the IRONMAN legacy behind in our race communities long after event day. For more information on IRONMAN Foundation programs, including Team IMF, Community Fund, Rock This Town, Your Journey Your Cause, and Women For Tri, visit?www.ironmanfoundation.org.

About The IRONMAN Group: As part of Wanda Sports Group, The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series®, Iron Girl®, IRONKIDS®, International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series races, road cycling events including the Velothon® Series, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon and The Sun-Herald City2Surf® presented by Westpac, trail running like Ultra-Trail Australia™, and other multisport races. IRONMAN’s events, together with all other Wanda Sports Holdings events, provide more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. The iconic IRONMAN® Series of events is the largest participation sports platform in the world. Since the inception of the IRONMAN® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines at the world’s most challenging endurance races. Beginning as a single race, IRONMAN has grown to become a global sensation with more than 230 events across 53 countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.

About Wanda Sports Group: Wanda Sports Group is a leading global sports events, media and marketing platform with a mission to unite people in sports and enable athletes and fans to live their passions and dreams. We have significant intellectual property rights, long-term relationships and broad execution capabilities, enabling us to deliver unrivalled sports event experiences, creating access to engaging content and building inclusive communities. We offer a comprehensive array of events, marketing and media services through three primary segments: Mass Participation, Spectator Sports and Digital, Production, Sports Solutions (DPSS). Our full-service platform creates value for our partners and clients as well as other stakeholders in the sports ecosystem, from rights owners, to brands and advertisers, and to fans and athletes.  

Headquartered in Beijing, China, Wanda Sports Group has more than 60 offices and 1,600 employees around the world.

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