If you are a Chicagoan or visiting our city, Crain’s Chicago Business does a great job each week with their 10 Things to do in Chicago site. A little of this, a little of that…something for almost everyone. Check it out here.
$250 million: bringing business to Chicago
$250 million for the Chicago area economy. Pretty impressive…read more from chicagomarathon.com:
Bank of America Chicago Marathon delivers more than $253 million in business activity
Bank of America announced today that the Bank of America Chicago Marathon continues to be a key economic driver and contributes an estimated $253.49 million in total business activity to the Chicago economy, according to a new economic impact report. This is the first time that the economic impact of the Marathon has exceeded $250 million.
The independent study, which analyzed the impact the 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon has on the Chicago economy, was conducted by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Regional Economics Applications Laboratory. By comparison, the impact of the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon was $243.46 million.
The new report found the event directly contributed an estimated $101.8 million distributed among the main sectors of the tourism industry, in addition to another $151.7 million in indirect activity. This is an equivalent of 1,742 full-time jobs and $85.94 million worth of wages and salary income. Further, each dollar spent by a race participant generated an additional $1.29 worth of activity distributed throughout Chicago. Study authors applied the use of the Chicago Region Econometric Input-Output Model to assemble the findings.
9,000 triathletes hit the lakefront
Like the Chicago Marathon, the Chicago Triathlon doesn’t get nearly the media coverage it deserves. This morning, more than 9,000 athletes participated in one of the world’s biggest triathlons, with the International competitors swimming 1.5k, biking 40k and finishing with a 10k run. Impressive. Congratulations to all the competitors.
By the way, 2015 registration opens in November…
Here are the results and photos. You can read more about the event here.
Bank of America Chicago Marathon
It would be unforgivable to begin a conversation about Chicago events without starting with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. In the dozen or so years I was responsible for the event, I saw literally hundreds of thousands of runners take on the challenge of 26.2 miles. While the start was always exciting, with an enormous crowd there to cheer the runners on, it was the countless stories crossing the finish line that always captured my emotions. And you see every possible emotion at that long-sought after finish line. Tears (of pain and of joy), exhalation, exhaustion, engagements (several)…runners of every shape, size, color and creed coming together to conquer the marathon distance.
While not all of us can run a marathon, we can all be a part of a 26 mile cheering squad encouraging the runners to achieve their goals. Mark your calendar for this year’s event and celebrate on the streets of Chicago.
Learn more at www.chicagomarathon.com