Austin Marathon To Provide Record Boost To Local Economy

By GABRIELLA VUKMAN

Reporting Texas

Runners and supporters alike flocked from miles around to be a part of race day. Gabriella Vukman/Reporting Texas.

With tens of thousands of sneakers pounding the pavements in Austin this February, local businesses geared up for what could be the city’s biggest winter spike in revenue yet.

The Austin marathon, “a 31 year-old tradition” is heavily entrenched in the city’s lore and culture.

Each year the marathon attracts thousands of people from all around the world.This year was no exception with the marathon seeing its biggest ever runner turnout on Feb. 16. 

Along with these tens of thousands of pounding feet comes tens of thousands of wallets and the city’s revenue for this year’s marathon is predicted to be the largest yet, topping last year’s event, which generated approximately $62 million.

With over 24,000 registered runners and even more supporters and onlookers, local business owners rushed to make the most of the marathon’s financial potential.

“There are a lot of small businesses down here and they really enjoy it when big events happen because it gives everyone an opportunity to make a little bit more money,” local café owner, Brianna Huberty said.

“This will be our third marathon. We get here pretty early at 5:30 a.m. to accommodate and if the weather is really good, we’ll be super busy,” said Huberty.

Since 2014, the marathon has almost tripled the amount of revenue it pumps into the local economy. But where does this money go and how does it affect Austinites?

“When Austin sees big events like the marathon…we have more people that are staying in hotels, that are going out to restaurants, so there’s more sales tax collection within those two specific industries,” said Travis Krogman, vice president of State and Federal Government Relations at the Austin Chamber of Commerce. 

“If they aren’t buying goods, they are buying gas,” said Krogman. “This is all local sales tax that is collected by the city and helps them expand their spending priorities.”

Marathon runner Emma Estrada had multiple supporters cheering her on from various positions along the sidelines. Some of these supporters included her parents, who made the trek down from Dallas.

“We had a big meal at Kerbey Lane Café afterwards,” Estrada said.

While the revenue data for this year’s marathon is yet to be published, Krogman assures that with Austin’s growing population and economy, “It is no surprise that the events that we do continue to get bigger and more popular year over year, because this is an amazing place to live.”