World's Strongest Man Returning to Myrtle Beach
- The World's Strongest Man competition is scheduled to return to Myrtle Beach, bringing athletes and spectators back to the area. - Organizers expect increased tourism, hotel bookings, and local business revenue during the multi-day strength event this season. - Officials highlight the event's economic boost and public-safety planning as details are finalized (myrtlebeachonline.com).
World’s Strongest Man opens in Myrtle Beach on Thursday, April 23, returning the contest to the oceanfront for a third straight year. (theworldsstrongestman.com) The 49th edition runs April 23-26 at Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion Place, 812 North Ocean Boulevard, with qualifying rounds on Thursday and Friday and finals on Saturday and Sunday. Organizers say 25 athletes are competing. (theworldsstrongestman.com) Gates open at 9 a.m. Eastern each day, events start at 10 a.m., and single-day tickets are listed at $55 for Thursday, $60 for Friday, and $75 for each finals day. The event site says this year’s seating is general admission, first come, first served, with no VIP section. (theworldsstrongestman.com) Myrtle Beach tourism officials tied the return to hotel demand and local spending after earlier editions drew large crowds. Tourism Works for the Grand Strand said the 2023 event brought about 38,000 attendees over five days, more than 11,000 room nights, and an estimated $8 million in economic impact. (tourismworksforthegrandstrand.com) That history helps explain why Myrtle Beach keeps landing the event. IMG, the sports marketing agency behind World’s Strongest Man, said the competition has “exceeded our expectations” in Myrtle Beach and has put the city “on the world stage,” according to Visit Myrtle Beach President Stuart Butler. (theworldsstrongestman.com) The contest has settled into a familiar downtown footprint on the boardwalk. Visit Myrtle Beach says fans can watch events including the Truck Pull, Titan’s Toss and Atlas Stones, and the public fan area includes food trucks, sponsor booths and competitor meet-and-greets. (visitmyrtlebeach.com) This year’s field includes defending champion Rayno Nel of South Africa, three-time champion Tom Stoltman of Britain, 2023 champion Mitchell Hooper of Canada and American contender Evan Singleton. World’s Strongest Man said Nel was the first rookie winner since 1997. (theworldsstrongestman.com) The event also brings traffic changes to the boardwalk area. WBTW reported that Ocean Boulevard between Eighth Avenue North and Ninth Avenue North is closed during setup for the competition. (wbtw.com) For Myrtle Beach, the weekend is now part sports event and part tourism pitch: four days of televised strength contests on the oceanfront, with the winner crowned Sunday, April 26. (theworldsstrongestman.com)
