Volunteer at the Muncie Ironman
The City of Muncie has registered dozens of volunteer captains, each with teams of at least 50 volunteers that will help run a race station for a given shift.
For more information on registering to volunteer, contact Jon Anderson, executive director of the Muncie Sports Commission, at jon@munciesports.com or Ro Selvey, Muncie city council member, at selveyro@gmail.com.
Muncie business owners are encouraged to put out welcome signs and buttons in their windows for Ironman athletes and the Army football team. Buttons, signs and posters are available for retail, hotel and restaurant staff. To receive these materials, contact 765-282-7897 or email info@munciedowntown.org.
Source: Vicki Veach, executive director of Muncie Downtown Development Partnership
As approximately 3,500 athletes and their supporters migrate to Muncie Oct. 2 for the Ironman Triathlon, the city is planning a variety of related events to welcome business to the local area. Here’s a schedule of events leading up to the race:
Sept. 30: DWNTWN Muncie will welcome Ironman participants from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday as athletes begin to register for the race at the Horizon Convention Center.
“I would like to encourage the local community to join us as we kick off the Ironman experience with a welcoming ceremony at 6 p.m. in Canan Commons,” said Mayor Dan Ridenour in a Sept. 17 press release. “We want to show these amazing athletes from all over the world that they are welcome and encourage them to come back again.”
Following the welcome ceremony, Muncie will showcase downtown with a free concert at 7 p.m. open to the public, athletes and their supporters. The concert will feature Kentucky Headhunters and Flynnville Train. Flynnville Train, a popular local favorite, will open the show. Kentucky Headhunters, a Grammy Award-winning band known for its blend of honky-tonk blues and southern country, will headline the evening’s event. Vendors will be onsite at Canan Commons, and attendees should bring their own chairs and blankets.
Charlie Cardinal, the Ball State cheerleading squad and Ivy Tech’s Rudi the Roadrunner will join the fun, and The Clubhouse at Accutech will offer a one-night-only, sneak peek preview of its new venue. The Clubhouse offers family-friendly, state-of-the-art digital golf simulators and signature food and drinks.
Many downtown restaurants and merchants will be open for business and invite people to join the activities throughout downtown.
Oct. 1: The Ironman athletes and others will be out around the city shopping, eating, visiting the race site and continuing registration downtown. Businesses are encouraged to prepare for the increase in the number of visitors.
“The economic impact of the Ironman weekend should generate over $5 million from food, beverage, room nights and transportation,” said Dale Basham, interim director of the Muncie Visitors Bureau, in a Sept. 17 press release.
Oct. 2: Ironman race day and the Ball State vs. Army football game.
Most Ironman participants will be at the Prairie Creek Reservoir area. The 70.3-mile half-distance triathlon and the 140.6-mile full race will both have rolling starts beginning at 7:30 a.m. with the swim track first.
Later in the day, the Cardinals will host the Army Black Knights at Scheumann Stadium at 5 p.m. The Army Black Knights football team, previously known as the Army Cadets, represents the United States Military Academy in college football. Anticipated attendance for this game is 10,000–15,000, and businesses and the community should expect Saturday to be busy, especially in and around Ball State’s campus.
Oct. 3: Celebration Day
Ironman athletes will come back to Prairie Creek Reservoir for an opportunity to visit the official Ironman Store, which will be open throughout the weekend beginning Sept. 30.
Awards and the Ironman World Championship slot allocation ceremony will start at 8 a.m., and athletes must be present to claim their World Championship slot.
For more information on the weekend events, visit downtownmuncie.org/ironman.
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