The Highs and Lows of The Pittsburgh Marathon

The Pittsburgh Marathon was canceled for five years due to budget constraints, but a recent study shows that the 2009 race generated over $22 million in spending.

1 minute read

September 12, 2009, 11:00 AM PDT

By franny.ritchie


The Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon generated $21.6 million in spending and another $900,000 in state, city and county tax revenues, a tidy sum that means its back to stay.

"We knew we had impact, but knowing exactly what it was is really beneficial in terms of showing its value to the city of Pittsburgh," says race director Patrice Matamoros. "We're already well on our way to planning the 2010 race with more than 1,700 registered participants, which is way up from where we were last year at this time."

Some 10,600 runners hit the streets last May; more than 5,500 arrived from outside of Allegheny County. The marathon attracted more than 45,000 racers and participants to the Golden Triangle and another 50,000 lined the streets to cheer. The 3-day weekend contributed $2.4 million to restaurants and bars another 21.7% of the runners stayed in local hotels, pumping $275,000 into local hotel revenues.

Thanks to Franny Ritchie

Wednesday, September 9, 2009 in PopCity Magazine

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

April 15, 2025 - Charles F. Bloszies

Looking out at trees on 4th Street in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism

After a vandal destroyed dozens of downtown LA trees, Mayor Karen Bass vowed to replace them. Days later, she slashed the city’s tree budget.

6 hours ago - Torched

White and blue Sacramento regional transit bus with one bike on front bike rack.

Sacramento Leads Nation With Bus-Mounted Bike Lane Enforcement Cameras

The city is the first to use its bus-mounted traffic enforcement system to cite drivers who park or drive in bike lanes.

7 hours ago - Streetsblog California

View of downtown Seattle with Space Needle and mountains in background

Seattle Voters Approve Social Housing Referendum

Voters approved a corporate tax to fund the city’s housing authority despite an opposition campaign funded by Amazon and Microsoft.

April 23 - Next City