Updated November 12, 2010
Once again the Richmond SunTrust marathon has broken its registration record. More than 15,700 runners have signed up for the races and SportsBackers expects the total number of runners to go over 16,000 by race day.
The 33rd annual event has turned into big business for Richmond’s hotels and restaurants as well as the race’s supporting vendors. Below is a story ran last year that takes a look at the behind the scenes deals it takes to get the marathon across the finish line
Thousands of sneakers will hit the pavement Saturday for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, and dozens of businesses will reap the benefits.
Everything from T-shirts to port-a-potties must be ordered and paid for to allow for a smooth event. And that means money for many vendors, some of whom are national companies that cater to running sports and athletic events.
In a special pre-race, behind-the-scenes look at the sort of businesses involved in helping produce the race, BizSense has explored the sort of contractors/vendors involved in the SunTrust Marathon.
The total budget for the marathon and the three other races this weekend is $1.3 million, according to Jon Lugbill, executive director for Sports Backers, which has organized the race since 1998.
Marketing and promoting the race is one of the biggest expenses. Lugbill said he spends $200,000 on marketing and advertising, which is all produced in house.
There are also a lot of little expenses that add up. The Mylar blankets worn by runners after the race cost $1 each, and the finisher medals cost $2 each.
Another big expense is the port-a-potty arrangement, which is with Richmond-based S.B. Cox construction.
“We do a majority of events in Richmond, and this one is one of the big ones,” said Mike Barr, chief financial officer for S.B. Cox.
Barr said they would deliver just over 200 portable toilets and put them at 19 stations. The company will have a crew of 12 to drop them off Friday and pick them up Saturday immediately after the race.
Barr said they charge between $60 to $100 for each toilet, depending on the event.
Another big need is drinking water, but that doesn’t come out of the expense budget.
The water is provided by Diamond Springs, and on race day they will deliver 1,765 five-gallon bottles, according to Katie Terri, director of marketing. She said they will have 14 employees and 11 vehicles delivering the water.
“We are really big on giving back to the community and promoting health and wellness,” said Terri. “We love working with Sports Backers.”
Last year the group went through 1,126 bottles.
The race’s 16 sponsors contributed a total of $200,000. Lugbill said there was a bit of sponsor turnover this year; most notably, nTelos has been replaced by HCA Virginia Health System as the title sponsor.
“nTelos had been with us for 11 years. They were just doing some things differently, and I’m not sure if it is anything more than that,” said Lugbill.
The entry fee for the marathon ranges from $55 for those who registered last year to $105 for those who wait until the very last minute. Lugbill said they already have a record number of participants in the four races, a total of 14,750 as of Wednesday, many of which are coming from out of town.
“The biggest benefactors are the hoteliers in town,” said Lugbill.
A study commissioned by Sports Backers last year determined that the race has an economic impact between $8 million and $10 million.
Below is a list of the race’s top 10 vendors, in no particular order.
1. S.B. Cox (Richmond), portable toilets
2. EMMI Timing Company (Tampa Bay, Fla.), chip timers for each racer
3. Richmond Police Department
4. Green Layer (Portland, Ore.), T-shirts
5. Worth Higgins (Richmond), brochure printing
6. TV Channel 12, advertising
7. Race It (Richmond), online registrations
8. Performance Food Group (Richmond), post-race food
9. P.D. Brooks (Richmond, cones and barricades
10. Palari Publishing (Richmond), race guide
Al Harris is a BizSense reporter. Please send news tips to [email protected].
Updated November 12, 2010
Once again the Richmond SunTrust marathon has broken its registration record. More than 15,700 runners have signed up for the races and SportsBackers expects the total number of runners to go over 16,000 by race day.
The 33rd annual event has turned into big business for Richmond’s hotels and restaurants as well as the race’s supporting vendors. Below is a story ran last year that takes a look at the behind the scenes deals it takes to get the marathon across the finish line
Thousands of sneakers will hit the pavement Saturday for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, and dozens of businesses will reap the benefits.
Everything from T-shirts to port-a-potties must be ordered and paid for to allow for a smooth event. And that means money for many vendors, some of whom are national companies that cater to running sports and athletic events.
In a special pre-race, behind-the-scenes look at the sort of businesses involved in helping produce the race, BizSense has explored the sort of contractors/vendors involved in the SunTrust Marathon.
The total budget for the marathon and the three other races this weekend is $1.3 million, according to Jon Lugbill, executive director for Sports Backers, which has organized the race since 1998.
Marketing and promoting the race is one of the biggest expenses. Lugbill said he spends $200,000 on marketing and advertising, which is all produced in house.
There are also a lot of little expenses that add up. The Mylar blankets worn by runners after the race cost $1 each, and the finisher medals cost $2 each.
Another big expense is the port-a-potty arrangement, which is with Richmond-based S.B. Cox construction.
“We do a majority of events in Richmond, and this one is one of the big ones,” said Mike Barr, chief financial officer for S.B. Cox.
Barr said they would deliver just over 200 portable toilets and put them at 19 stations. The company will have a crew of 12 to drop them off Friday and pick them up Saturday immediately after the race.
Barr said they charge between $60 to $100 for each toilet, depending on the event.
Another big need is drinking water, but that doesn’t come out of the expense budget.
The water is provided by Diamond Springs, and on race day they will deliver 1,765 five-gallon bottles, according to Katie Terri, director of marketing. She said they will have 14 employees and 11 vehicles delivering the water.
“We are really big on giving back to the community and promoting health and wellness,” said Terri. “We love working with Sports Backers.”
Last year the group went through 1,126 bottles.
The race’s 16 sponsors contributed a total of $200,000. Lugbill said there was a bit of sponsor turnover this year; most notably, nTelos has been replaced by HCA Virginia Health System as the title sponsor.
“nTelos had been with us for 11 years. They were just doing some things differently, and I’m not sure if it is anything more than that,” said Lugbill.
The entry fee for the marathon ranges from $55 for those who registered last year to $105 for those who wait until the very last minute. Lugbill said they already have a record number of participants in the four races, a total of 14,750 as of Wednesday, many of which are coming from out of town.
“The biggest benefactors are the hoteliers in town,” said Lugbill.
A study commissioned by Sports Backers last year determined that the race has an economic impact between $8 million and $10 million.
Below is a list of the race’s top 10 vendors, in no particular order.
1. S.B. Cox (Richmond), portable toilets
2. EMMI Timing Company (Tampa Bay, Fla.), chip timers for each racer
3. Richmond Police Department
4. Green Layer (Portland, Ore.), T-shirts
5. Worth Higgins (Richmond), brochure printing
6. TV Channel 12, advertising
7. Race It (Richmond), online registrations
8. Performance Food Group (Richmond), post-race food
9. P.D. Brooks (Richmond, cones and barricades
10. Palari Publishing (Richmond), race guide
Al Harris is a BizSense reporter. Please send news tips to [email protected].
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