Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau

GBCVB Contacts: Larry Meehan, VP, Media Relations & Tourism Sales Tel: 617- 867-8231, e-mail:
lmeehan@bostonusa.com; Stacy Shreffler, Media Relations & Tourism Sales Manager, Tel: 617-867-8203,
e-mail: sshreffler@bostonusa.com. www.BostonUSA.com is Boston’s Official Visitor Information web site.

 

Boston Marathon-Boston Athletic Association Contact: Jack Fleming, Tel: (617) 236-1652 ext. 2627;
email: fleming@baa.org

April 16, 2008

Boston Marathon Weekend 2008 will mean

$111.95 million for Greater Boston economy

BOSTON, April 16, 2008 - The 112^th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 21, 2008 and related
activities throughout the weekend will bring approximately $111.95 million in direct and indirect
economic impact to the Greater Boston region, according to Greater Boston Convention & Visitor
Bureau President and CEO, Patrick Moscaritolo.

This year there will be more than 25,112 official runners including 3,694 runners from outside the
United States. More than 600,000 spectators are anticipated to line the 26-mile route and Back Bay
finish line area.

In terms of media members receiving credentials, the B.A.A. Boston Marathon ranks behind only
the Super Bowl as the largest single-day sporting event in the world.

This year runners are from sixty-four (64) countries including the United States.

Included in the Marathon weekend spending impact are four Red Sox games at Fenway Park,
Patriot’s Day activities in Boston and around the region, the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo
at the Hynes Convention Center, US Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials on April 20^th, and the start
of the spring tourism season in Boston.

The estimated $111.95 million in spending impact will be generated from the
following categories:

 

¨        Total spending by 25,112 runners and their guests, including
spending at John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo:                     $72.7 million

¨        Total spending by spectators:                                                      $10.0 million

¨        Total spending by the Boston Athletic Association:                      $7.0 million

¨        Charity Fundraising events by marathon runners                        $10.0 million

¨        US Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials on April 20th:                  $750,000

¨        Spring Visitor Season Events:                                                      $6.3 million

¨        Four Red Sox games at Fenway Park:                                        $5.2 million
 

                                                                                    TOTAL            $111.95 million

The 112^th Boston Marathon is second only to the 100^th anniversary race in economic impact and
number of runners. In 1996 there were 33,708 runners and spending impact reached $172 million.

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