by RBR AdminThe Boston Marathon is the most iconic of the modern marathons. The week of the Boston Marathon is a meeting place of the industry, and the place where the running gossip is at its apogee.
The week of hotels, meals, tourist events adds up, and this report shows that. Boston Marathon is good for the city of Boston.
Kawauchi, Linden, 2018 BAA Boston Champions, photo by PhotoRun.net
All Eyes on Boston for the 2019 Boston Marathon®
Oldest annual marathon injects more than $200 million into Greater Boston economy
BOSTON (April 4, 2019) – The 123rd Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15, 2019 marks an annual rite of spring in Boston as all eyes focus on the world’s oldest consecutively run marathon. For Boston, Marathon Monday and associated events surrounding the Boston Marathon present an opportunity to showcase the city’s unparalleled array of cultural, historical and sports-related assets. From Patriots’ Day reenactments to morning baseball, the Boston Marathon occurs against a distinctively Boston backdrop. Taken together, the magic of Marathon Monday on Patriots’ Day marks the onset of Boston’s peak visitor season.
Boston Marathon-related events, including the Boston Marathon Expo and B.A.A. 5K, inject tremendous visitor spending to the Greater Boston economy and annually bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Greater Boston. In recent years, the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) has produced economic impact summary reports which estimate that the Boston Marathon injects more than $200 million into the Boston economy.
This year, there will be over 30,000 official participants in the Boston Marathon, including more than 7,600 runners traveling from 118 countries outside the United States. In addition, members of the media from more than 200 outlets are expected to cover the Boston Marathon, providing the Greater Boston region with exceptional international exposure.
“The Boston Marathon is a spectacular kick-off for Boston’s busiest period, which runs from April through October,” said Bureau President and CEO Martha Sheridan. “We look forward every year to welcoming runners and their guests form around the world to Boston. The Boston Marathon is the most beloved event in our city.”
“Each year, the Boston Marathon brings people from all backgrounds together to celebrate athletic excellence and community spirit,” said Tom Grilk, Chief Executive Officer of the B.A.A. “We at the B.A.A. are eager to welcome participants, spectators, and volunteers from all across the globe to the Greater Boston area. Being able to showcase our community, in particular the eight cities and towns that comprise the Boston Marathon route, is truly an honor.”
This year, more than 9,700 volunteers will assist 30,000 participants on their journey from Hopkinton to Boston. More than half a million spectators will line the race route. Participants competing and raising funds for various charities and non-profit programs are anticipated to raise in excess of $36 million.
For the 34th consecutive year, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon is John Hancock. John Hancock provided the first-ever prize purse for the Boston Marathon in 1986 and has provided over $20.4 million (USD) in prize money for the event. This year’s prize purse totals $871,000 (USD), plus bonuses.
The Boston Marathon Expo will be located at the Hynes Convention Center from Friday, April 12, through Sunday, April 14. The Expo is widely regarded as the running industry’s premier expo for new products and services, features more than 150 exhibitors, and is estimated to attract more than 100,000 attendees. Boston Marathon participants must claim their bib numbers for this year’s race at the Boston Marathon Expo.
New for 2019 is Boston Marathon Fan Fest, a three-day festival on Copley Square Park featuring live music, activities, Boston Marathon champions, photo-ops, and more. Free and open to the public, Boston Marathon Fan Fest is the place to relax and soak in the spirit of Boston Marathon weekend.
Also among 2019 Marathon-related events is the B.A.A. 5K on Saturday, April 13, two days prior to the Boston Marathon. The B.A.A. 5K will feature 10,000 entrants, including 1,681 international participants. Registration closed within hours of opening in January. The 3.1-mile course starts and finishes at historic Boston Common and takes participants across the Boston Marathon finish line.
About the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.’s Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs, including high performance athletes and running club. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. More than 60,000 runners will participate in B.A.A. events in 2019. The 123rd Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 15, 2019. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.
About the Great Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB):
The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) is the official marketing and visitor service organization charged with the development of meetings, conventions and tourism-related business for Boston, Cambridge and the greater metropolitan area. For more information on what to do, where to stay, and what to see when visiting Boston visit www.BostonUSA.com.
