Lookout Staff
July 28, 2009 -- The City Council Tuesday night will decide if Santa Monica should become the last leg of the LA Marathon’s 25th Anniversary race next year, bringing as many as 25,000 runners to the beachside city.
Dubbed “The Stadium to the Sea,” the race on March 21 is expected to attract elite international runners, as well as runners from across the country and, according to organizers, pump some $21 million into the Santa Monica’s economy over the next five years.
“The LA Marathon presents a unique opportunity for Santa Monica to be part of a world-class race, provides economic benefits from pre-and post-race festivities that would be located in the City and attracts extensive media coverage for the community,” the staff report said.
But the race – which would start at Dodger Stadium and end on Ocean Front Walk just across the border in Venice -- also would stretch the City’s resources thin, staff warned.
While the marathon presents “a unique opportunity,” staff said, “it also raises concerns regarding public safety, traffic management, neighborhood impacts, coordination of overall logistics, and legalities.”
There would be significant staffing cost, neighboring cities would have to help with police and fire personnel, and buses would have to be re-routed, staff said. In addition, there would need to be “extensive community and neighborhood outreach.”
However, staff added, “race organizers have committed to providing full cost recovery for all City services.”
In addition to the logistics, the council would likely need to change local law to accommodate marathons and half-marathons, as well as for the use of the parking lots.
After starting at Dodger Stadium, the race would wind through Los Angeles, Hollywood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. It would then enter Santa Monica on San Vicente Boulevard. to Ocean Avenue, then south across the Venice border.
“Most participants park near the finish line and are bused to the starting line,” staff said. “Many participants and their supporters stay in local hotels.”
The proposed route has been approved by the Cities of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills and will be on an upcoming Council agenda for Los Angeles.
Several local service organizations that will receive contributions from the race, which raised $1.6 million last year, include: Heal the Bay and OPCC.
The 2010 LA Marathon will be the world’s first major-city marathon to achieve green certification with the Council of Responsible Sport.
