Marathon honouring late Kelvin Kiptum generates billions
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 16.06.25. | 15:20
The event injected a staggering $683 million (approximately Ksh88.2 billion) into the metropolitan economy, yes, you read that right
The 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, held in tribute to the late world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum, has shattered records beyond the race.
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The event injected a staggering $683 million (approximately Ksh88.2 billion) into the metropolitan economy, yes, you read that right.
According to an analysis commissioned by Bank of America, the official race sponsor, the 2024 edition saw a 22% increase in economic impact from 2023, a record-breaking year in its own right.
Economist Don Jones, whose firm led the study, attributed the spike to a surge in participant numbers and a notable rise in international visitors who tend to spend more and stay longer.
“The Covid lockdown lid was finally completely lifted. This year’s race proves that travel for big city marathons is back in full force,” Jones noted.
Held annually since 1977, the marathon is a major draw on the global running calendar, but last year’s edition held extra significance.
It honoured Kiptum, who shattered the marathon world record in Chicago in October 2023, clocking an astonishing 2:00:35, a time 34 seconds faster than Eliud Kipchoge’s previous mark.
Tragically, Kiptum died in a car accident months later, and the 2024 marathon served as a heartfelt tribute to his memory and groundbreaking legacy.
The economic benefits mirrored the emotional weight of the event. With 52,150 finishers from all 50 US states and over 140 countries, the marathon generated 4,589 full-time jobs and funnelled over $177 million (approximately 22.9 billion) directly into tourism-related industries.
An estimated 37% of runners came from outside the US. The influx of visitors, paired with the cultural pull of the race, helped revitalise a city still working to regain its pre-pandemic tourism numbers.
The race’s iconic flat 26.2-mile course winds through 29 of Chicago’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, giving participants and over a million enthusiastic spectators a cultural and architectural tour like no other.
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