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Event Impact Continues to Drive Tourism, Business Activity and Job Growth
CHICAGO – The Bank of America Chicago Marathon continues to provide
year-over-year growth to Chicago’s economy, with the 2014 race
delivering an estimated $254 million in total business impact to the
city. The findings come from the latest economic impact study reported
today by Bank of America.
The event remains a key economic driver for the city, providing more
than a quarter of a billion dollars to Chicago for the second year in a
row.
The independent study is conducted by University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign’s Regional Economics Applications Laboratory. Study
authors used the Chicago Region Econometric Input-Output Model to
estimate the direct and indirect economic impact the marathon has on the
local economy.
The latest report found the event directly contributed an estimated
$102.2 million to the main sectors of the tourism industry, which
includes travel, lodging, entertainment and transportation, in addition
to another $151.8 million in indirect activity. This is an equivalent of
1,816 jobs and $86 million worth of wages and salary income. Each
dollar spent by a race participant generated an additional $1.27 worth
of activity distributed throughout Chicago.
“The race is a solid example of how high-profile events contribute
significantly towards Mayor Emanuel’s goals for Chicago’s visitor
industry,” said Desiree Rogers, chair of Choose Chicago’s board of
directors. “The Bank of America Chicago Marathon’s continued upward
trend in overall visitors and spending strongly supports the goal of
welcoming 55 million annual visitors by 2020.”
“As the steward of this legendary event for our city, Bank of America’s
commitment and investment to making the Chicago Marathon one of most
exciting endurance races in the world has helped increase the economic
impact nearly 78 percent in less than a decade,” said Tim Maloney,
president, Bank of America Illinois. “The continued success is due in
part to the strong partnership with the city, its residents and
businesses.”
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon had 42,279 race participants pick
up packets in 2014. Each year, the marathon attracts new visitors to
Chicago and contributes to improving the image of the city as a leading
tourist destination.
About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
In its 38th year, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon welcomes
thousands of runners from more than 100 countries and all 50 states,
including a world-class elite field, top regional and Masters runners,
race veterans, debut marathoners and charity runners. The race’s iconic
course takes runners through 29 vibrant neighborhoods on an
architectural and cultural tour of Chicago. In 2014, an estimated 1.7
million spectators lined the streets cheering on a record 40,659 runners
from the start line to the final stretch down Columbus Drive. As a
result of the race’s national and international draw, the Chicago
Marathon assists in raising millions of dollars for a variety of
charitable causes while generating $254 million in annual economic
impact to its host city. The 2015 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, a
member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will start and finish in
Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 11. In advance of
the race, a two-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at
McCormick Place Convention Center on Friday, October 9, and Saturday,
October 10. For more information about the event and how to get
involved, go to chicagomarathon.com.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions,
serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and
large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset
management and other financial and risk management products and
services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United
States, serving approximately 48 million consumer and small business
relationships with approximately 4,800 retail financial centers,
approximately 16,000 ATMs, and award-winning online banking with 31
million active users and approximately 18 million mobile users. Bank of
America is among the world’s leading wealth management companies and is a
global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a
broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments,
institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers
industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business
owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and
services. The company serves clients through operations in all 50
states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico
and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE:
BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Visit the Bank of America newsroom for more Bank of America news.
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