Triathlon New Zealand CEO Craig Waugh said that New Zealand "reluctantly walked away from the World Triathlon Series because the numbers simply did not work," according to David Leggat of the NEW ZEALAND HERALD. And in another "blow to the multi-sport community," Ironman 70.3 Auckland "has also been dropped" because it did not work financially through high operating costs and a lack of participants. It "had been a feature of the sporting landscape here for the past three years." Auckland "has withdrawn from the World Triathlon Series primarily for financial reasons." A shortage of mass participant numbers -- "as distinct from the top-drawer athletes" -- meant there was not sufficient money to cover the wide range of costs involved. And Waugh confirmed that this year's event based at the Auckland waterfront had been "touch and go." Waugh said, "We're not in a stadium, where you can charge an entry fee. It requires participants to come and take part and help fund the event. It became a bridge too far." By Waugh's reckoning, "the event drew approximately 1000-1500 non-elite athletes this year." It "needed around 2500 to break even." Entry cost on average was around NZ$120 ($83) this year. The bottom line is that "it was the bottom line that has undone Auckland as a major triathlon venue." Waugh said, "We've worn a loss to do it and it's got to a point where you give everyone a damn good chance to support it, and if they don't then you've got to make a decision." The cost of hosting the event was between NZ$1.1M ($768,000) and NZ$1.4M ($978,000) (NZ HERALD, 6/17).
