Based on a report released by New York Road Runners on Tuesday, miles have turned into millions locally as an estimated $934 million in spending impact through its own races boosted the city’s economy in the fiscal year through March.
The organization’s Economic Impact Study, conducted every five years, showed that the NYC Marathon alone contributed $692 million in incremental economic impact locally in the days before, during and after the race.
“We have seen the effects of the post-pandemic running boom firsthand, with our races selling out quicker and drawing more participants and finishers than ever,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners. “With the results of our latest Economic Impact Study and annual Impact Report, it’s clear that this growing global running community brings tremendous value to New York City, on par with our great city’s best sports and cultural institutions. As we continue to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running, we will look for even more ways to get New Yorkers active and moving together.”
The period of the study, between April 2024 and March 2025, revealed that the running boom in the city continues to expand as the 34 races NYRR held in that timeframe pulled in 291,000 participants and well over one million runners, spectators and guests from outside of the city and beyond.
The city’s tax revenue and local businesses activity have seen increases as a result and the overall economic bump is 58 percent higher than the same point five years ago.
The economic infusion has not gone unnoticed by city officials as NYRR-hosted races, programming and events are continuous from the start of a calendar year and ends with a New Year’s Eve race in Central Park. The shot in the arm from running is clearly welcome along with the spending it draws to the city.
“When people say that the TCS New York City Marathon is the Super Bowl of races, they aren’t kidding, with their marquee event generating just as much economic impact for our city as the actual Super Bowl did for Las Vegas,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. “At a moment when the Adams administration has already shattered the record for the most jobs and small businesses in city history, NYRR is helping New York City double down on our economic success and create the good-paying jobs New Yorkers deserve.”
Running nationwide has seen an uptick during and after the COVID-19 pandemic but the current boom is particularly distinct from the initial running craze of the 1970s and there are considerable financial implications. Being a runner equals big business when it comes to costs associated with race fees, shoes, accessories, nutrition and travel.
New York City’s running scene — locally and beyond — has seen this firsthand as demand for the NYC Marathon continues to increase and even smaller NYRR races have sold out within days of registration being made available.
The numbers of participants and their spending power will likely continue to rise in the city and there are obvious figures from the study that tell the tale of economic impact that is here to stay.
BY THE NUMBERS
$934 million
Economic impact
291,000+
Participants in NYRR events
34
Races
1 million
Out-of-town runners, guests and spectators
$692 million
NYC Marathon economic impact
55,000+
Participants
Around 2 million
NYC Marathon spectators
+139 percent
Economic impact increase since 2019
$425 million
Out-of-town spending (hotels, transportation, shopping, food, leisure/museums)
