From start to finish, there was one clear winner in Sunday's Cellcom Marathon…the Green Bay tourism industry.
“I'm guessing we'll see somewhere over 2000 room nights generated from the event and well over $1 million in economic impact,” said race director Sean Ryan. Over 10,000 people representing 48 states and 9 countries participated in this year's marathon. With the majority of runners coming from over 60 miles away, people we spoke with were taking in more than just the marathon. “We're going to the Hall of Fame tomorrow and to the Botanical Gardens and stuff,” Twin Cities tourist Olaf Edgar said. People are still finding Green Bay a great value for their money. Bridget Edgar told NBC26, “We've never stayed this close for a marathon. Usually the hotel prices are too expensive. But here, everything is so reasonable.” Compared to other races, participants say the Cellcom Marathon is still the best deal. “If I went to Grandma's (marathon), I'd have to pay $100 to get in and $100-150 for a hotel room,” St. Paul resident Nate Hall told us. Race director, Sean Ryan, said the economy hasn't affected the sport. “Even though the economy is down and we hiked entry fees, our numbers jumped 30 percent. There's not a lot of things you can do cheaper than buying a pair of shoes and a pair of shorts and going out for a run.”
Despite the economic downturn, organizers say a record amount of money was raised for the marathon's three charity partners.