Complete Agenda Package - Town of Hilton Head Island

HILTON HEAD ISLAND
Fred Weniger | Bluffton, SC
I am a plastic surgeon in Bluffton South Carolina. We employ 12 FTEs and are currently building
an 18,000 square foot office building for an expansion which will employ 40 FTEs. Obviously,
the economic growth of our county is of great importance to me. As you know, Hilton Head
Island has an exciting opportunity to host a full Ironman race next year.
Since you may have likely not attended or participated in such a race, I wanted to inform you of
how big a deal this is. These races are truly international events, with fields of professionals and
amateurs alike from around the globe. At a typical race, approximately 4000-6000 athletes,
spectators, and family members converge on a town for a period of 3-5 days.
This equates to $12 to $15 million spent locally in a short period of time, as the average triathlete
is well above-average socio-economically. With so many people coming, businesses in Bluffton
will benefit as well. Additionally, this race provides an excellent marketing opportunity for the
area, which will likely benefit from return visitors who come back for summer vacations or golf
after seeing our community during the race. Ironman races not only help local businesses, but
the Ironman Foundation also donates tens of thousands of dollars to local non-profits. If we are
fortunate enough to host an Ironman race next year, we would be happy to have our staff and
my family volunteer in medical tents and we could host professional athletes as well in our
home.
We have a very active cycling, running, and triathlon community here in the lowcountry, and the
excitement within just one day of the news of this possibility assures me that everyone else will
also be enthusiastic to make this an event that is great for the town and the visitors and
atheletes.
Therefore, I ask that you support IRONMAN HILTON HEAD 2014, not just for the sport, but for
the growth and prosperity of our community.
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