Marathon figures show $6 million for weekend

| December 16, 2010


Runners, their families and their friends spent more than $6 million during the weekend of the Outer Banks Marathon, providing a nice helping of capital before the Thanskgiving holiday.

Outer Banks Sporting Events reported that 8,339 runners participated in various events over the Nov. 13 weekend, including the full marathon, the half marathon, an 8K, a 5k and a fun run.

Mike Kelly, a founder of the annual event, told the Dare County Tourism Board Thursday that applications for events sought additional data about the runners’ stay here.

The bottom line: $6.17 million.

“I feel that is very acccurate,” he said, “something you can take to the bank.”

The number of runners has almost doubled since the first marathon in 2006 and the weekend has become a top draw during the tourism shoulder season.

“You all have done a great job in a short amount of time,” Tourism Board Chairman Paul Buske said.

Here is some of the data from Outer Banks Sporting Events:

Hotel rooms 2,178 for an average 2.15 days at $85 a room, $398,000.

Rental houses 1,373 for an average of 2.15 days at $525, $1,549,774

Bed and breakfasts 169 for 2.15 days, $30,884.

Total accommodations: $1,978,688.

A formula used by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau showed that 26,000 people spent $75 a day, for a total of $4,192,500, according to the sports group.

Kelly said that while the event has grown to include nearly all 50 states and several countries, it will have some competition next year. On the same weekend, inaugural events are scheduled for Norfolk, Charlotte and High Point.

“So it’s definitely going to have an impact,” he said.

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See what people are saying:

  • Kathy Sparrow says:

    This is such an awesome statement about what can be done with a group of motivated and visionary entrepreneurs who want to move beyond the summer beaches as our ‘only’ draw.

    • on December 17, 2010 @ 1:30 pm

  • Ray says:

    It’s a great event, but whats the bottom line after all the overtime salary for the police, fire & all the other paid employee’s.

    • on December 17, 2010 @ 4:39 pm

  • Ray M. says:

    Who makes up these formulas for the tourist bureau?
    Bernie Maddox?
    26,000 different people spent $4.2 million on account of the marathon?
    There were 8,339 different bodies running in the marathon?
    Were dollars spent by locals included?
    Why does everything on the OBX have to be so exaggerated when it comes to $$$.

    • on December 18, 2010 @ 1:23 pm

  • Bryan3000 says:

    Its a wonderful event that pumps money into our economy. If we’re paying overtime to police and fire, GOOD! Im sure they appreciate some overtime pay. As far as these other Marathons popping up to compete with ours…What do those locations have on the OBX? Nada. Norfolk and High Point?? What a joke.

    • on December 18, 2010 @ 5:02 pm

  • Paul says:

    Quote: “Who makes up these formulas for the tourist bureau?
    Bernie Maddox?”

    Um, don’t you mean Bernie Madoff?

    • on December 19, 2010 @ 9:50 am

  • Ray M. says:

    Duhhh???….yuh…I guess I meant..Bernie Madoff :) :)

    • on December 19, 2010 @ 9:56 pm

  • Lee says:

    It’s still a boost for the local economy in a shoulder season, no matter how you count it.

    • on December 20, 2010 @ 6:40 am

  • ekim says:

    It didn’t boost the plumber it didn’t boost the drywaller the carpenter the painter!!!It boosted the restaurant’s motels Foodlion an so on.(dont give me trickle down either) is 6mill NET?

    • on December 21, 2010 @ 5:45 pm

  • Stan Clough says:

    I do not see what some of you have to complain about. It is a wonderful event and brings people and money to the Outer Banks in a time of year other than summer. Thanks Rob for giving us this forum.

    • on December 22, 2010 @ 12:55 pm

  • Paul says:

    Quote: “It didn’t boost the plumber it didn’t boost the drywaller the carpenter the painter!!!It boosted the restaurant’s motels Foodlion an so on.(dont give metrickle down either) is 6mill NET?”

    So what is your point? Events are no good unless they benefit every niche of our economy? Maybe we need to have an event to draw sick people so the pharmacies benefit. How about a bedbug convention so the exterminators get a boost?

    Sorry about the building industry crash. What is Dare County supposed to do?

    • on December 22, 2010 @ 2:42 pm

  • ekim says:

    How much $ did you make PAUL???

    • on December 22, 2010 @ 9:15 pm

  • Paul says:

    ekim:

    I didn’t make a cent. I paid my $99 entry fee and ran in the marathon.

    • on December 23, 2010 @ 6:40 am

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