00;00;00;03 - 00;00;07;13
Stephanie Wiechmann
Though Muncie has hosted Ironman events for four decades, Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour told the Muncie Board of Works that this is the first official agreement.

00;00;07;17 - 00;00;22;19
Dan Ridenour
Muncie was the only city in all of the Iron Man events that did not have a signed agreement. So Iron Man could have stopped, at any time, coming to Muncie. And we just didn't want that to happen.

00;00;22;26 - 00;00;41;26
Stephanie Wiechmann
On Iron Man's online list of races, Muncie's competition at Prairie Creek Reservoir is scheduled for October 1st, 2022. The mayor says the city will also host in 2023 and 2024. Ridenour, who competed in a Muncie Iron Man competition last year and will be part of a relay team this year, has touted the event's economic benefit to Muncie.

00;00;41;27 - 00;00;55;18
Stephanie Wiechmann
Last October, Muncie hosted two competitions, the half and full events. They brought more than 3500 athletes to the city and according to a report by the Horizon Convention Center, the Ironman weekend brought in just over $ 4 million for the city.

00;00;55;20 - 00;01;01;25
Dan Ridenour
So we obviously want that to continue for our restaurants, our hotels, our stores. Everybody was packed.

00;01;02;01 - 00;01;11;10
Stephanie Wiechmann
But for the next three years, Ironman will only be running one competition in Muncie, not two. When asked if any city money was used to secure the hosting spot, the mayor said -

00;01;11;10 - 00;01;20;00
Dan Ridenour
The agreement says we can't do anything without their permission. We can't release any information without their permission and we're still waiting on that.

00;01;20;07 - 00;01;26;24
Stephanie Wiechmann
Ridneour says the Ironman official who can give approval is traveling right now. In Muncie, Stephanie Wiechmann, IPR news.