jonesy. wrote:
40,000 runners x $4/runner = $160,000 in prize money. I don't know exactly how much prize money there is but we have to face the fact that attracting elite runners is not the reason they are charging $171+$11. And that's not even factoring in sponsorship dollars, which are considerable.
You're right. Do you know how much money a city like NYC or Chicago loses when it shuts down for half a day? Conveniently we can at least estimate that figure for Chicago. Obama is in hot water with the city of Chicago because his campaign hasn't paid the city for his inauguration celebration in Grant Park. The bill? $1.74 million. Hey that's the location of the Chicago marathon start/finish too! Oh, and the marathon spans a much, much larger portion of the city as well.
http://www.forthegoodofillinois.org/News/2008/12/15/OBAMAS-GRANT-PARK-CELEBRATION-LEFT-AN-UNPAID-BILL-OF-174-MILLION/Aside from that, what you think and what is reality are very different things. These marathons are big business and the people running them are at least 1000x more knowledgeable about big events than internet conspiracy theorists. They aren't running some underground movement to 'turn running into a rich man's sport.' They are business men and women responding to demand. Go run a business and get back to us.
Better yet, nothing is stopping you from putting on a marathon or trying to become head of the NYRR. Stop the hippie talk and do it if there is such a huge problem. People will flock to your race if you are correct. Oh, and don't forget to not raise prices when the demand is lining up flush with cash at your door.
What really tickles me is the people complaining about the price despite the fact that the organizers are clearly undervaluing their product to keep entry available for the masses. If entry is $175 and the keepers could double the price and still fill the race without doing any additional work, THEY ARE DOING YOU A FAVOR. That is a horribly run business by any standard, so ask yourself what is their motivation for doing so.