How can they charge $250 to participate in a local triathlon?

Villas - How can they charge $250 to participate in a local triathlon? I guess the promoter is more interested in folks from Stone Harbor and Avalon participating in races that shut down and use our streets. This price point is shameful. What did they do? "Sell out" to create excitement and then "find" a bunch of spaces at the end to maximize profit? How is this different from when a gas station hikes up their prices during a storm? Consumers need protection from this price gouging too.