The Chicago Marathon 2025 crowned Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo as men’s champion on Sunday with a time of 2:02:23, while Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa won the women’s race in 2:14:56. More than 53,000 runners from over 100 countries took part in this edition. According to World Business Chicago, the event generated an economic impact of 683 million dollars in 2024, marking a 22% increase over the previous year.

The Abbott World Marathon Majors —Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York and Tokyo— account for more than half of the global economic impact of the world’s leading races, totalling 2.7 billion dollars out of the 5.2 billion estimated by Brand Finance in 2025. These events have become benchmarks for urban development, tourism attraction and city branding.

Chicago and Boston lead the growth

The Chicago Marathon recorded an economic impact of 683 million dollars in 2024, according to World Business Chicago, representing a 22% increase year over year. The official Bank of America report attributes 4,589 full-time equivalent jobs, 229 million dollars in labour income and 36 million raised for charity to the event, according to PR Newswire. Forecasts suggest the marathon could approach the one-billion-dollar threshold in the coming years, driven by sports tourism and international sponsorship.

The case of Boston is equally significant. The Boston Marathon 2024 generated 509.1 million dollars in total economic activity in Massachusetts, including 330.5 million in labour income, according to the UMass Donahue Institute. In Berlin, the BMW Berlin Marathon 2024 delivered a total economic output of 469.4 million euros, including 142.7 million in direct impact and more than 74,000 participants, according to event organisers.

Asia strengthens its position with Tokyo

In Asia, the Tokyo Marathon 2025 generated an estimated 78.7 billion yen in nationwide economic effect, with 56.2 billion concentrated in the capital, according to the Tokyo Marathon Foundation. In 2024, the figure stood at 52.6 billion, showing steady post-pandemic recovery and growth. Brand Finance values the Tokyo Marathon brand at around 163 million dollars, making it the only Asian event among the world’s twenty most valuable marathons.

Meanwhile, the London Marathon 2025 surpassed 250 million pounds in economic impact, with a record 56,640 finishers and 73.5 million pounds raised for charity in the previous edition, according to Brand Finance and Reuters. The event remains the strongest brand among the majors, with a BSI score of 90.1/100 in the Marathons 50 2025 report.

New York and emerging markets

The New York City Marathon consistently generates around 427 million dollars annually, a figure maintained since 2019, according to the New York Road Runners. The Mastercard Economics Institute reported a 40% rise in small business sales along the route during race weekend. Overall, the NYRR’s annual activities contribute an estimated 593 million dollars and more than 4,000 full-time equivalent jobs, according to Audience Research.

Beyond the six majors, the Valencia Marathon 2023 generated 31.3 million euros in tourism spending, while the Hong Kong and Xiamen Marathons jointly produced 45 million dollars, according to Valencia Ciudad del Running and Brand Finance. These figures highlight the global expansion of the urban running economy.

Trends and the sustainability of the model

Reports by Brand Finance and Investopedia suggest that the monetisation capacity of major marathons now extends beyond local spending. Today, these events integrate broadcast rights, sponsorship licensing, digital commerce and city branding strategies. Experts caution, however, that estimates of economic impact vary depending on the methodologies used and the inclusion of indirect or induced effects.

The Chicago Marathon 2025 confirms the trend: record participation, international reach and a sustained growth forecast that consolidates the six major marathons as both a sporting and economic phenomenon worldwide.