Underscoring the significant economic impact races in America are having on their local businesses, a new report from Visit Boulder, the Official Destination Marketing organization for the City of Boulder, the 2025 edition of Boulderthon generated an estimated economic impact of $22.8 million.
The report also noted that the race supports more than 6400 jobs with the strongest effects in lodging, food/beverage and retail spending. The report estimated that $8.9 million in impact was created directly in the Boulder community, and $13.9 million in impact was generated indirectly in the region.
“Community events like Boulderthon offer a unique opportunity to enrich the lives of locals and to invite more people from around the country and the world to see why we love our home here at the foot of the Flatirons,” explains Boulder mayor Aaron Brockett. “Local businesses see a boost, visitors leave feeling excited about their experiences, and the benefits for our city are significant and lasting.”
“Boulderthon is a strategic asset for the City of Boulder and one of our most important annual events. In only its fifth year, Boulderthon now drives nearly $23 million in economic impact - supporting thousands of jobs and generating meaningful revenue for our hotels, restaurants, retailers and small businesses,” adds John Tayer, CEO of Boulder Chamber of Commerce. “We are proud to welcome runners, fans and community members from Boulder and around the world, and to recognize the vibrancy, economic vitality and community benefit this annual event delivers to our city.”
The calculations are generated through an industry tool developed by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company, which factors in visitor spending behaviors by event type and includes a competitive set of destinations with similar populations and economic environments. It’s used by more than 350 other cities around the country and globe and has calculated estimates for over 500,000 events.
"Having Pizzeria Alberico and Frasca right at the start line of Boulderthon, it’s been incredible to see how much this race has positively impacted Boulder in just a few short years,” says Bobby Stuckey, owner of Pizzeria Alberico and Frasca, two local dining destinations in Boulder. “What’s typically a quieter fall weekend has become vibrant and full of life. From increased foot traffic to an overall elevated atmosphere, Boulderthon has been a huge asset for our restaurants and for the city as a whole."
“Boulderthon consistently brings great energy and foot traffic to Avanti and race weekend is always a strong one for our business,” adds Hayley Edmisten, director of marketing at Avanti Food & Beverage. “Beyond the sales impact, it’s an incredible community event that brings together locals, visitors and runners of all backgrounds in a way that feels uniquely Boulder.”
The sixth annual Boulderthon returns on Sept. 27 and registration is now open. The 2025 race drew record-breaking participation, as more than 15,600 runners from across the nation and the world took to Boulder’s streets for Colorado’s premier fall racing event. This 56 percent growth over 2024’s total of 10,000 marked a banner year for the event. It was recently featured among the 100 largest races in the United States in RunSignUp’s latest report on industry growth.
