Hyrox could bring 'economic boost' to Cardiff

An indoor fitness competition could bring an "economic boost" to Cardiff, according to an economist.

Hyrox, a "fitness racing" event, will take place across three days between 30 May and 1 June 2025 in the Principality Stadium.

The inaugural event in Germany saw 650 participants, but Hyrox says it now has 200,000 competitors dotted around the world.

Economist Dylan Jones Evans said "tens of thousands" could visit the Welsh capital to take part in the event.

"What we saw with Hyrox when they went to Glasgow recently was 40,000 people going to the city who wouldn't have gone to Glasgow," he said.

"What we want to see here in Cardiff is tens of thousands of people coming here at a time when most students will have left, so it's a quiet time for the city and therefore giving an economic boost at a time when they didn't expect that kind of money to come into the shops and restaurants."

Participants run 1km (0.62 miles) before completing one fitness exercise, including 1km on a standing ski machine, 50m of sled push and 80m burpee jumps.

Competitors - either professional or everyday fitness enthusiasts - repeat the process until they have performed eight runs and the eight workouts.

At the Colosseum Gym at Gwaelod y Garth just outside Cardiff, some gym-goers said they had already upped their training ahead of the competition.

Mother and daughter duo Tracey Bennett, 44, and Grace, 15, said it was a chance to improve their fitness as well as spend time together.

"It's just like a really different type of training to what I'm used to it," said Grace.

"It has the strength that we are used to in strength and conditioning but also the running and the quite intense cardio as well, which I really enjoy."

Grace is too young to enter, but has encouraged her mum to try.

"I am now very much thinking about it thanks to Grace, who is waiting until she turns 16 to do one at the end of the year.

"I'd say she's strongly encouraged me have a go. I'm not the most competitive, so I'll just go and have fun," Tracey said.

Lauren Smith, who owns a gym in Barry and also presents content for Hyrox's social media channels, said she believed the event would be "huge" for the Welsh capital.

"You already have this really lovely atmosphere of the athletes racing," she said,

"We're going to be doing it on the hallowed turf of the Welsh Rugby Union where we've won Grand Slams and lifted trophies and you're just going to be in the middle of that stadium."