I am a flatlander, I was going to go for IMLP or IMWI next year, even though the logistics suck, I won't have to fly on a plane or worry about a hotel, I guess I am in
Although I love living in NYC, its not an ideal place to hold a long course triathlon. Unlike the NYC Marathon, the course they mapped out won't be spectator friendly and will include running past a sewage facility. Also picking up all my gear after the race will be incredibly annoying. 81st street back over the GWB then back again to the city. This might take longer then the marathon. Especially when I just want to relax, celebrate, eat some food, and drink a lot of beer.
That being said, all my friends are doing it so it looks like I'm in.
I like how the athletes will pay more, when you have all those sponsors out there who'd love the visibility. I bet WTC could double race license fees on the sponsors and still be fine.
I don't see a problem with the fee being higher. It's New York, everything is more expensive. Well it's really Jersey, but anyway. The area has a ridiculous number of triathletes that can more than support this race for years. So they pay say, $1,000, big deal. It's local. No airfare. No hotels. In essence, it can actually be cheaper for a local. I could sleep in my own bed if I ever chose to do this race. That would rock. Now for the out of towners, yeah this one may hurt. Is not gonna be cheap.
Think of it this way, there should be less NY @ssholes at the other races now!
I've got a feeling this one is going to sell out quickly, regardless of price. So, will the WTC think, if 2500 athletes are willing to pay $1000 for this IM, why not charge it for all the IM events?
Cary - the saving grace will be if other races don't sell out as quickly because of the new options out there. Wouldn't it be something if IMLP took a few weeks or more to sell out due to the competition from IMNYC and IMMT?
I've got a feeling this one is going to sell out quickly, regardless of price. So, will the WTC think, if 2500 athletes are willing to pay $1000 for this IM, why not charge it for all the IM events?
I think it will be a good test to...test...what the market will bear. I'm sure that some smart economist type somewhere has a forumla that says "If 2500-3000 people are paying you $625 in < 30' for a product ONE YEAR before they get to enjoy that product, then you can increase the price of that product by $X and acheive the same thing...in a month or so vs 30'."
What this may do is teach WTC that some races are worth more than others. They can't push the envelope on races like IMSG which don't sell out at all, although I bet if they dropped the price by $50 there they could come close. Location, amenities, and race atmosphere will (should) eventually dictate a different pricing schedule for each race venue.
As of this morning, out of ~500 people, ~92% say NO for $1k! Problem is, if they had the huge pool of potential triathletes being asked, the 8% would still be more than enough to fill 2000 slots at $1k each. Gotta love stats!!!
$1k is easily doable if you're local. Airfare x 1-4 (wife and kids) + hotel x 4-5 days + 4-5 days car rental + food...that's the true cost of the race.
I think the biggest PITA will be getting your bike after the race. That exercise will add considerable time and aggravation to what has been a very, very long day.
Why do an interview where you mention the registration fee and give out a bottom floor number ($750) and mention (off-the-record wink, wink) that it could go as high as $1000 (it is the tile of the article after all) a mere eight days before the event goes on sale? How could they possibly not know how much they need to charge a little more than a week out from sale?
Perhaps they're looking to maximize what they can charge by putting this "feeler" out there and having google alerts listening to the online chatter about the article?
Q. What's the best price to charge a potential customer? A.The absolute maximum amount they're willing to pay (and still sell out the event.)
I think even a "local" might need at least one night's Hotel on the NJ side. I'm on the other side of Manhattan Island (Long Island) so driving in to NJ the morning of the race could be an event itself.
I think having friends/Family pick up your bike from the transition area (with that special ticket they give you) after you exit T2 might be the way to go.
So, any ideas on best places to spectate from? Good volunteer posts?
Rich has a point...if there is a huge "discount" on a race for being local. Near that big a population density, a couple (few?) hundred extra bucks is balanced out against hotel and flying. But also, we're looking at a large number of very well to do athletes out that way for whom price is not as sensitive a matter.
As much as I hate it too, I keep wondering what I have to argue about prices that sell out a year in advance from a strict market point of view... I agree that there's nothing inherently wrong with having differentiated prices at different races.
Exactly what I was saying earlier Rich. $1,000 is a bargain if you live in the area. Or in the area of any race for that matter. I haven't done the math but I bet it's costing me like 3-4K to get the family, bike, etc out to CDA. This would save me big bucks if I decided to ever do it.
The NY area alone will sell this race out. No need for the rest of the world at least for the first couple years.
And I agree with William, why can't they charge different rates for different events? Let the market decide what the price should be. I think they could charge $2,000 for this NYC race and they would still sell out. It would be 98% local but it would sell out. Year 2 might be a problem though. And why not discount races that don't sell out to try to get more people there? But on the other hand, if Utah was $300, does that really change your mind about doing? Still a major expense getting there and I don't see $300 as a big enough incentive.
The big issue at NY is just dumb. They need to solve this problem.
If they hired security to watch bikes and gear overnight (hell, charge competitors a $20 overnight parking fee) then you could finish, meet your family, get sorta cleaned up, enjoy the finishline and enjoy the race vs dragging your tired ass onto a ferry and doing the bike/gear shuffle for the next 2hours. And no way you're coming back over to watch your friends finish. The finishline will be interesting...
I believe this was in the schedule of events that is not longer available for download, perhaps they are changing it.
Ferries take you from NYC to transition in NJ on Sat to drop off the bike and gear. No access to transition area Sunday morning. Starting at 4:30 on Sun. ferries take you from West 39th St. pier in NYC to swim start, which is 2 1/2 miles north of transition on NJ side of Hudson.
After the race you have until 1 AM to take the ferry back to NJ to pick up your gear.
I live in NJ anyways, so picking up my bike on the way home shouldn't be a problem... If I were doing this race and lived somewhere else, I would definitely get a NJ hotel because 1) it's cheaper and 2) the logistics will be way easier to start the race and to get your bike afterwards.
As far as the entry fee goes, I can't figure out why they wouldn't start at $1,500 or even $2,000. Everything cost more in NY and there are enough local idiots to sell out this race in the first 10 mins regardless of the entry fee. Everyone I know in the area that has ever done so much as a sprint triathlon is gonna be sitting nervously on their computer at exactly 12:00 hoping to get a slot to this puppy (myself included). This would also be true at $2,000 entry fee... And all of these people know the logistics will suck and the course will hardly be nice or scenic for that matter!
New York Ironman Triathlon Sells Out $895 Slots in 11 Minutes 2011-06-15 17:44:59.111 GMT
By Josh Fineman and Michael Buteau
June 15 (Bloomberg) -- The inaugural New York City Ironman triathlon race sold out its regular $895 slots online in 11 minutes, organizer World Triathlon Corp. said in a press release.
The race, scheduled for Aug. 11, 2012, still has $1,500 slots available, with the additional $605 going to Ironman Foundation charities, according to spokeswoman Jessica Weidensall.
The organization doesn’t not reveal how many of the 2,500 spots in the race were sold for $895 and how many were held for the $1,500 charitable donation, Weidensall said. The majority of the slots were $895.
The New York Ironman, the first held in the city, is the most-expensive triathlon in the series. A typical Ironman race costs $575.
The race consists of a 2.4-mile swim in the Hudson River, a 112-mile bike ride, followed by a 26.2-mile run. Competitors have 17 hours to finish.
Must admit that even though it's a "local" race for me, I had no real thoughts on doing it...Just not much of an adventure or destination of choice...and I've worked in NYC for many years...I'd rather go someplace I've never been, even if it costs that much less...
Also - selling out this fast sounds very similar to the NYC Triathlon (Olympic) and it's the same race organizer....Hmmm...makes you wonder..?
Comments
I am a flatlander, I was going to go for IMLP or IMWI next year, even though the logistics suck, I won't have to fly on a plane or worry about a hotel, I guess I am in
That being said, all my friends are doing it so it looks like I'm in.
Okay so according to WTC $750 is a given, should we have a guess the reg fee contest?
Think of it this way, there should be less NY @ssholes at the other races now!
I'll go with $875.
$949
BTW, that would exceed my personal willingness to enter if applied to other races this year; it would be a good excuse to stop this nonsense.
I think it will be a good test to...test...what the market will bear. I'm sure that some smart economist type somewhere has a forumla that says "If 2500-3000 people are paying you $625 in < 30' for a product ONE YEAR before they get to enjoy that product, then you can increase the price of that product by $X and acheive the same thing...in a month or so vs 30'."
A poll at triathlon.com about NYC and would people be willing to pay:
triathlon.competitor.com/2011/06/fe...nman_30739
As of this morning, out of ~500 people, ~92% say NO for $1k! Problem is, if they had the huge pool of potential triathletes being asked, the 8% would still be more than enough to fill 2000 slots at $1k each. Gotta love stats!!!
$1k is easily doable if you're local. Airfare x 1-4 (wife and kids) + hotel x 4-5 days + 4-5 days car rental + food...that's the true cost of the race.
I think the biggest PITA will be getting your bike after the race. That exercise will add considerable time and aggravation to what has been a very, very long day.
Why do an interview where you mention the registration fee and give out a bottom floor number ($750) and mention (off-the-record wink, wink) that it could go as high as $1000 (it is the tile of the article after all) a mere eight days before the event goes on sale? How could they possibly not know how much they need to charge a little more than a week out from sale?
Perhaps they're looking to maximize what they can charge by putting this "feeler" out there and having google alerts listening to the online chatter about the article?
Q. What's the best price to charge a potential customer?
A.The absolute maximum amount they're willing to pay (and still sell out the event.)
Food for thought.
I think even a "local" might need at least one night's Hotel on the NJ side. I'm on the other side of Manhattan Island (Long Island) so driving in to NJ the morning of the race could be an event itself.
I think having friends/Family pick up your bike from the transition area (with that special ticket they give you) after you exit T2 might be the way to go.
So, any ideas on best places to spectate from? Good volunteer posts?
As much as I hate it too, I keep wondering what I have to argue about prices that sell out a year in advance from a strict market point of view... I agree that there's nothing inherently wrong with having differentiated prices at different races.
The NY area alone will sell this race out. No need for the rest of the world at least for the first couple years.
And I agree with William, why can't they charge different rates for different events? Let the market decide what the price should be. I think they could charge $2,000 for this NYC race and they would still sell out. It would be 98% local but it would sell out. Year 2 might be a problem though. And why not discount races that don't sell out to try to get more people there? But on the other hand, if Utah was $300, does that really change your mind about doing? Still a major expense getting there and I don't see $300 as a big enough incentive.
The big issue at NY is just dumb. They need to solve this problem.
If they hired security to watch bikes and gear overnight (hell, charge competitors a $20 overnight parking fee) then you could finish, meet your family, get sorta cleaned up, enjoy the finishline and enjoy the race vs dragging your tired ass onto a ferry and doing the bike/gear shuffle for the next 2hours. And no way you're coming back over to watch your friends finish. The finishline will be interesting...
Ferries take you from NYC to transition in NJ on Sat to drop off the bike and gear. No access to transition area Sunday morning. Starting at 4:30 on Sun. ferries take you from West 39th St. pier in NYC to swim start, which is 2 1/2 miles north of transition on NJ side of Hudson.
After the race you have until 1 AM to take the ferry back to NJ to pick up your gear.
I am planning on getting motel on the New Jersey side.
Easier logistics this way?
Reason not to do this?
Can get myself to the swim start easily this way?
As far as the entry fee goes, I can't figure out why they wouldn't start at $1,500 or even $2,000. Everything cost more in NY and there are enough local idiots to sell out this race in the first 10 mins regardless of the entry fee. Everyone I know in the area that has ever done so much as a sprint triathlon is gonna be sitting nervously on their computer at exactly 12:00 hoping to get a slot to this puppy (myself included). This would also be true at $2,000 entry fee... And all of these people know the logistics will suck and the course will hardly be nice or scenic for that matter!
Reg fee is $895, who is in?
Not sure of exact timing, but was sold out by 12:45.
I heard it sold out in 15 minutes.
New York Ironman Triathlon Sells Out $895 Slots in 11 Minutes
2011-06-15 17:44:59.111 GMT
By Josh Fineman and Michael Buteau
June 15 (Bloomberg) -- The inaugural New York City Ironman triathlon race sold out its regular $895 slots online in 11 minutes, organizer World Triathlon Corp. said in a press release.
The race, scheduled for Aug. 11, 2012, still has $1,500 slots available, with the additional $605 going to Ironman Foundation charities, according to spokeswoman Jessica Weidensall.
The organization doesn’t not reveal how many of the 2,500 spots in the race were sold for $895 and how many were held for the $1,500 charitable donation, Weidensall said. The majority of the slots were $895.
The New York Ironman, the first held in the city, is the most-expensive triathlon in the series. A typical Ironman race costs $575.
The race consists of a 2.4-mile swim in the Hudson River, a 112-mile bike ride, followed by a 26.2-mile run. Competitors have 17 hours to finish.
Ironman + New York + August = Hot, humid, sticky sufferfest.
I passed without a second thought.
Also - selling out this fast sounds very similar to the NYC Triathlon (Olympic) and it's the same race organizer....Hmmm...makes you wonder..?