The Joe Pomp Show Inside The Billion-Dollar Business Behind The New York City Marathon
Nov 12, 2025
Explore the fascinating financial dynamics of the New York City Marathon, from its humble beginnings with just 55 runners to a billion-dollar nonprofit powerhouse. Discover record-breaking participation, the challenges of increased demand, and the key role of sponsors. Learn about the diverse entry methods and the controversies surrounding sponsor exemptions. Delve into NYRR's impressive revenue growth, operational efficiency, and significant economic impact on New York City, as well as the marathon's evolution into a global cultural phenomenon.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Nonprofit With Corporate Scale
- New York Road Runners (NYRR) generated $116.7M in operating income with a $5.66M surplus last year.
- The nonprofit now runs at a corporate scale while retaining a modest operating margin.
Ten-Tier Entry System
- NYRR offers ten distinct entry paths including lottery, charity, tour operators, and paid VIP packages.
- These tiers maximize participation and extract revenue from different customer segments.
Get In By Fundraising
- Use charity partnerships as a guaranteed entry route by raising $3,000–$10,000 for partner charities.
- This program raised $600 million for charities over the last 20 years, so leverage it to secure a spot.