BusinessFriday, October 30
Officials estimate IRONMAN Montana will bring up to $15 million to Great Falls
The Good Day Great Falls team
If you run a business that serves visitors, mark Aug. 15, 2027. That's race day for the inaugural IRONMAN Montana, and Great Falls landed Montana's first full-distance IRONMAN.
IRONMAN Montana comes with big numbers
- 2,300
- contestants, the most Jeremy Jones has heard to expect
- $15 million
- top of the local spending estimates
- Aug. 15, 2027
- race day for Montana's first full-distance IRONMAN
Sources: Montana Talks, NonStop Local Montana
Rebecca Engum, executive director of Great Falls Montana Tourism, puts the local economic impact between $8 million and $15 million. Deputy City Manager Jeremy Jones told Montana Talks officials estimate $10 million to $15 million will be spent in Great Falls, and that every contestant brings an entourage.
Two officials' spending estimates both top out at $15 million
| Tourism's Engum | Measure | Deputy City Manager Jones |
|---|---|---|
| $8 million | Low estimate | $10 million |
| $15 million | High estimate | $15 million |
Sources: Montana Talks, NonStop Local Montana
- Registration: general registration was set to open Oct. 29
- Race perk: includes world championship qualifying slots
- Still to plan: safety, transportation, volunteers, and athlete routes on race day
Sources: Montana Talks, NonStop Local Montana