COEUR d'ALENE - Ironman might not be invincible after all.

For the last 12 years, the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce has underwritten the Ironman Coeur d'Alene event, but now it's considering ending its sponsorship before the race slated for June 2017. Before making that decision, the chamber is seeking recommendations on how to proceed.

"If we exercise this option, the race would be moved to a different community," said Steve Wilson, president of the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce.

Ironman races are profit-making events owned by the World Triathlon Corporation, and for cities to host the event, an entity within the city must come forward as a sponsor.

"If you'd like an Ironman event in your community and they think it would fit in your community, then they sell the race to the community," Wilson said. "The rights to host an Ironman are up for sale, so to speak."

The benefit to the community, Wilson added, is that WTC provides the necessary infrastructure and personnel to run a well-organized race.

However, the price tag is "fairly significant" and while Wilson would not comment as to the exact price of the event, he said it's in the six-figure range every year. The Chamber of Commerce does not pay the entire sum and has built partnerships with other community organizations such as the Downtown Association, The Coeur d'Alene Resort and the Idaho State Tourism Office.

"But someone has to stick their neck out on the line and say they will make this contractual commitment for the next five years," Wilson said.

The chamber has a contract with WTC that lasts through 2017, but Wilson said there's a clause in the contract that would allow them to choose not to do that race.

"We're also trying to do some planning for the future since they're five-year contracts," Wilson said.

Wilson added that the survey targets four specific groups in the community: hoteliers who don't currently participate in a partnership agreement with the chamber for the race, hoteliers who do participate, businesses such as health clubs and bicycle shops that benefit directly from the race, and other members of the chamber.

Once the input is received from the four groups, the chamber will decide whether or not to continue the contract. Wilson also encouraged members of the general public to email him at [email protected] if they would like to give their input on the issue.

"This is a chamber issue, but it's also a community issue," Wilson said. "Someone might come up with some alternative thoughts or ideas that could be very meaningful."