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A business boom from NYC Half-Marathon?

Friday, August 25, 2006

Eyewitness News

(New York-WABC, August 25, 2006) (WABC) -- Thousands of runners will be hitting the streets of New York this weekend. More than 10,000 people are expected to take part in the city's first half-marathon.

Runners from 46 states, plus Washington, DC and Puerto Rico, are taking part. And including the U.S., there are people from 37 states registered to run.

Eyewitness News reporter Michelle Charlesworth tells us why some say this weekend is one of the best to have a race.

Bring in the runners, give them numbers and more digits will start lining up -- big numbers with dollar signs in front.

Christyne Nicholas, NYC and Co: "This could be a 20 percent boost during this week."

One reason: the inaugural race is scheduled now: This is one of the most quiet weeks for business all year. Restaurants, streets and hotels are empty. But bring in 12,000 runners and things pick up.

In fact, the amount of money coming into the city has been figured out to the dollar. Every single runner attracts a handful of people to the city and every one of them is expected to spend $150 to $200 dollars a day.

"If they spend ... it's great for New York City's economy," Nicholas said.

Great is good. Mary Wittenberg, president of the New York Road Runners, says even the time of the race brings in money.

"The hotels are getting a lot of runners," she said.

And a few hours later, it will be time for lunch and dinner.

Jedd Levitsky, Dave & Buster's Restaurant: "That's the nice thing ... they'll be hungry sooner or later."

Which has restaurant managers licking their chops. The race actually goes right by this place to eat on 42nd Street.

Now, be sure to tune into Channel 7 for full coverage of Sunday's half-marathon anchored by Sports Director Scott Clark. Our coverage starts at 7 a.m.

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