...AND READ WHAT HE WROTE
...AND READ WHAT HE WROTE
that's a bunch of nonsense. Run a business? Yes, those people are all geniuses who KNOW what they are doing. Just look at the bank and investment bank ceo's. They did a great job. The point is that NYRR, which is not a for profit organization, is funding the rest of its operations, some of which have to do with holding races and some of which do not, by means of the Marathon and now the Half Marathon (also a ridiculously high fee). Now in a deep recession they are raising the Marathon price by over 20 percent??? Explain to me what warrants that. I have demonstrated that the size of the fee has little or nothing to do with the prize money. And as for the cost to the city, the fact is that the marathon is held on a Sunday, and it attracts an enormous amount of tourist dollars, not to mention extra spending by New Yorkers spending the day at bars and restaurants to watch the marathon. I forget the total, but the positive economic impact to the city might have been estimated by Bloomberg as at least $50 million. No, New York City is not bemoaning the great cost of holding the Marathon. I'll change my mind about the cost of the race if anyone shows that it costs NYRR an amount commensurate with its revenues for the event and if anyone shows that this cost grew in the past few years at anywhere near the rate of increase of the entry fees (I recall them being $120 in 2007, so about a 40% increase in two years). Inflation has been running at 2-3%, at most, in that span.
just run bandt like me
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.
Wrong. The 160000 is only for the overall winners. I believe in 2006 the total purse was much closer to $700,000.
Secondly, the race was listed as costing 19 million in 2007, which is about $475 per runner. Furthermore, did anyone stop to think that because ING is doing poorly they may be giving less sponsorship money to the race this year which means a higher cost burden for participants, which is still less the one third the cost of the race per participant?
Capitalist Runner wrote:
Welcome to America's modern age. Do you have a problem with the profit motive?
For a non-profit organization? Of course, you dipshit.
Supply & demand.
Socialist.
wake up, moron. wrote:
Capitalist Runner wrote:Welcome to America's modern age. Do you have a problem with the profit motive?
For a non-profit organization? Of course, you dipshit.
Watch out for the "Charity is Me" scheme.
If you think NYCM is too expensive you can get the hell out of my country and move to a country with a facist military dictatorship such as China, Russia, Israel, Zimbabwe, or North Korea and see how you like it there.
If you are "sub-elite" as you say, and destitute, why not run your local marathon and pick up a few bucks for the win? Most of my local races offer $250-$1000 for the win and the times aren't crazy fast. 2:25-2:35 will get you the win or at least some money.
Fascist military dictatorships aren't democratically elected, bozo, and you're well aware where you list and reality fail to intersect.
This feels like paying $300 to see Madonna Hag in a stadium when I could pay $25 to see more talented Feist at a local club.
Great analogy! I've never understood why people would care to pay tons of loot to go see overplayed acts in horrible stadium and arena venues. I'd much rather see a band with better sound and artistry and be able to be up close for the same low price that everyone else there has paid. Just like that's a much better musical performance experience, going to a smaller, more local regional marathon would probably be a much better running performance experience than going to some dirty, expensive, faraway city to be among mobs of hobbyjoggers. If you're working your hardest then you aren't really giving attention to crowds, bands, or scenery. But then most of the entrants in most of those megaraces don't tend to give their best efforts and typically underachieve.
as for the supply and demand answer, where is your source that demand for race entry has expanded commensurate with prices? as for the reply stating some unbelievable claim for the cost of the race per runner, the question is whether the cost has risen by 40% in two years.
the cost per runner is the same but the ING subsidized portion of the cost may have shrunk due to the recession which is increasing the portion participants pay.
Are you truly unaware of how far in advance of race day they max out their entries?
Hey Wejo,
Do you really think the NYPD just show up for free? The marathon might get them at a reduced rate due to the NYRR's not-for-profit status, but police costs are part of what make big city marathons, or any road racing event for that matter, pricey endeavors. In a race like NYC you can't bankrupt the city of its police force for 6-7 hours, so you end up paying off-duty cops overtime to stand at the street corners. This comes at a pretty steep price, reduced rate or not.
I'm way too big of a cheapskate to pay $171 for an entry fee, besides the fact that I have no desire to run any of the megathons. I've long felt that there's a better experience to be had at smaller marathons with simpler logistics. To each his own, though.
That being said, those of you who run NY should probably be thankful the entry fee isn't even higher. I was told recently that they had 90,000 people enter the lottery for entry. Therefore, even at $171, demand still far exceeds supply.
Bingo.
Runningart2004 wrote:
I had one experience with the NYC Marathon...and it was a logistical nightmare.
Unless you have gold teeth you ain't staying in Manhattan so you'll have to bus/subway to the start area.
Alan
What's wrong with the Subway/Ferry?
I left home in Upper Manhattan about 8am, jumped on the 8:30 ferry and got to the start around 9:10.
Nobody is forcing anyone to do the New York City Marathon. There are 7 or 8 other marathons that weekend.
However much they charge there will still be 40,000 participants.
How much would golfers pay to play in the same competition as Tiger Woods.