Local CrossFit gyms lose exposure as CrossFit games move from Madison

This is the first time in four years the CrossFit games will not be held in Madison at the Alliant Energy Center. Local CrossFit athletes explain why it is so unique to have some of the best athletes in the world competing in their back yard.

"It's that small Midwestern feel that I think I really liked to show off when people come into town," Owner of CrossFit Big Dane Barrett Danz said.

"All these people that come into town to watch, they'll stop by my gym and others' gyms and they'll drop in. " I end up getting to talk to cross-fitters from every different corner of the world now."

"It's pretty powerful when the individuals are competing and you see them cross the line, and the leaderboard changes and the entire crowd erupts," Co-owner of CrossFit TBD Dayna May said. "It's pretty special."

The games will be moved to Aromas, California this year, the original host of CrossFit games.

"I think it's great," Danz said. "If it had to go anywhere else, that's the one place that makes sense."

Danz and May are thrilled to see the show still go on, even though it will not be open to the public.

"Athletes will still be extremely happy that they'll have the opportunity to compete because their entire lives revolve around this date so they're scheduling their programming, they're priming their bodies to be in peak performance," May said.

CrossFit Games said they are also evaluating the option to hold the games virtually.

CrossFit Games are under contract with the city of Madison to hold the games at the Alliant Energy Center through 2021.