FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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.
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