Ironman Triathlon Could Be Moneymaker For Tri-State Area
FORT LEE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - The Ironman Triathlon is in town this weekend, and business leaders in Fort Lee are hoping to cash in on the influx of visitors.
"We expect them to be here and we expect them to spend money here," Craig Weinstein with the Fort Lee Regional Chamber of Commerce told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell.
About 2,500 athletes will be competing in the Ironman U.S. Championship Competition. Saturday will mark the first time the Tri-State Area will play host to the event.
"We're going to have the athletes in town for three or four days and we're hoping they're going to frequent all the restaurants," Weinstein told Haskell.
Fort Lee will be the scene of all three legs of the race.
"The swim, the run, and the bike portion all take place in Fort Lee," Weinstein said.
WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reports
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The Chamber is also hosting a virtual block party with food, music, and a view of the race.
"The corner of Bruce Reynolds Boulevard and Hudson Terrace, we've set up a big party for everyone," Weinstein told Haskell.
The Ironman Triathlon is comprised of a 2.4 mile swim in the Hudson River, a 112-mile bike ride on the Palisades Interstate Parkway, and a full marathon across the George Washington Bridge.
The event is expected to generate $50 million for the region.
Will you check out the Ironman this weekend? Let us know in the comments section below.
