Pacific Sports Deal Revives Performing Arts Triathlon

The Orange County Performing Arts Center Triathlon, discontinued last week, has been revived on a reduced scale thanks to a five-year agreement with a sports marketing firm that will stage the event as scheduled June 4 at Lake Mission Viejo.

Monrovia-based Pacific Sports will manage the triathlon, provide a guaranteed payment and share any net proceeds with The Guilds of The Center, according to an announcement Wednesday. But there will be no pro competition this year because prize money could not be arranged, according to a Pacific Sports spokesman.

With backing from Mazda, last year’s purse for pros was $20,000, and the men’s and women’s winners received new sports cars. But Bob Mendes, a partner in Pacific Sports, said the company declined when asked to return as title sponsor.

“It will be strictly an amateur event this year, but we hope to restore the pro event next year,” Mendes said. “We had hoped to arrange a title sponsor, but no one came forward. We’re still seeking a title sponsor for this year.”

Center President Tom Tomlinson said he is pleased the triathlon will continue.

“Our new partnership with Pacific Sports will provide the opportunity to continue the event without any financial risks or large volunteer commitment,” he said in a statement. “I am confident that under Pacific Sports’ management the triathlon will be as highly regarded and as successful as it has been in the past.”

The announcement said Pacific Sports has directed eight U.S. Triathlon Championships and also manages the National City Triathlon in Cleveland.

In the last few years, the Mission Viejo race had come to be known as one of the best in the country; last year’s event served as qualifier for the 1994 Goodwill Games.

The triathlon was first contested in 1986 under sponsorship of the Center 500 and was taken over by The Guilds in 1991. The Guilds said last week that it was being discontinued because of the large number of volunteers needed--about 1,000--and the decline in funds being raised.

The event generated more than $500,000 for the arts center in its first nine years.