What is the historic Boston Marathon worth to Boston? Approximately $509.1 million last year, according to the findings of a new economic impact report. Approximately 34,000 people participated in the 128th Boston Marathon on Patriots Day and in other races earlier during the April weekend. While Boston Marathon participants are surveyed each year, this was the first time that a survey was created to collect additional information from spectators. Approximately 5,900 participants responded to their survey, and 3,500 replied to the spectator survey.The surveys were part of an economic impact report commissioned by the Boston Athletic Association and Meet Boston. The report was completed by the Economic and Public Policy Research group at the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute. It attempts to quantify the combined value of the B.A.A.’s operational costs, spending by marathon participants and spectators, and other secondary economic impacts from household spending, taxes and vendor spending. Results of the study found that 10% of those attracted to the area by the race in 2024 were from the Greater Boston area, 51% came from a state outside of New England and 30% came from a foreign country.Sixty-eight percent of participants stayed in an area hotel and the median weekend spending of visitors was $500. That includes dining, with 87% reporting they went out for food and drink. Most participants brought an average of one person along, and 77% of spectators who attended said they were there to support someone who was running. In 2024, the Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program reached a new record fundraising level of $45.7 million across 160 organizations. The total philanthropic impact of last year’s race tallied $71.9 million raised. WCVB is the official broadcast partner of the Boston Marathon and the B.A.A.
What is the historic Boston Marathon worth to Boston? Approximately $509.1 million last year, according to the findings of a new economic impact report.
Approximately 34,000 people participated in the 128th Boston Marathon on Patriots Day and in other races earlier during the April weekend.
While Boston Marathon participants are surveyed each year, this was the first time that a survey was created to collect additional information from spectators. Approximately 5,900 participants responded to their survey, and 3,500 replied to the spectator survey.
The surveys were part of an economic impact report commissioned by the Boston Athletic Association and Meet Boston. The report was completed by the Economic and Public Policy Research group at the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute. It attempts to quantify the combined value of the B.A.A.’s operational costs, spending by marathon participants and spectators, and other secondary economic impacts from household spending, taxes and vendor spending.
Results of the study found that 10% of those attracted to the area by the race in 2024 were from the Greater Boston area, 51% came from a state outside of New England and 30% came from a foreign country.
Sixty-eight percent of participants stayed in an area hotel and the median weekend spending of visitors was $500. That includes dining, with 87% reporting they went out for food and drink.
Most participants brought an average of one person along, and 77% of spectators who attended said they were there to support someone who was running.
In 2024, the Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program reached a new record fundraising level of $45.7 million across 160 organizations. The total philanthropic impact of last year’s race tallied $71.9 million raised.
WCVB is the official broadcast partner of the Boston Marathon and the B.A.A.