There will be no IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead triathlon in Benton Harbor in 2024 and no further IRONMAN competitions here for the foreseeable future. That’s according to IRONMAN race organizers and the race’s major sponsor.
A statement was posted today on the IRONMAN race site.
“After thoughtful consideration and evaluation of our North American race calendar for 2024, we have made the decision to discontinue the IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead triathlon. We are grateful to Benton Harbor and the City of St. Joseph for hosting us and would like to thank our sponsors and partners for their support.”
Maytag brand has been a major sponsor of the event for many years. MoodyOnTheMarket.com reached out to parent company Whirlpool Corporation for comment.
“Whirlpool Corporation was informed by the Ironman organization that they have decided to discontinue the annual Ironman Steelhead 70.3 in Benton Harbor. The organization cited unpredictable weather as the reason for discontinuing the race. The event was a highlight of the summer season and we are appreciative to have been a part of it.”
The well-known race has been locally popular and a national draw for athletes and spectators alike.
Since the race’s inception in 2003, Whirlpool-Maytag has been synonymous with IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead. In 2015, Maytag became the title sponsor and continued its dedicated support of the event into 2023.
We’ll continue to follow and update this story as more information becomes available.
