The Las Vegas Strip has been given the go-ahead for another of its famous Rock ’n’ Roll Marathons in 2021 to run alongside the original.
The new event, following the usual marathon which goes ahead in November, will take place in the Spring and will be held on a Saturday night for extra showbiz glamour, rather than a Sunday.
An application to The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Board of Directors (LVCVA) was unanimously approved on Tuesday, November 5 for the run to take place on April 3, 2021.
The board also agreed to spend $15,000 on the event, identical to the 2020 race.
This year’s race, set to take place on Sunday, November 18 at 4.30 pm, offers runners the chance to tackle the full 26.2 miles, a half-marathon, 10-kilometers or 5-kilometers.
It’s thought that the great success of the first marathon pushed organizers to get a second added to the annual calendar. Last year, more than 40,000 people from 50 states and 86 countries registered for the event which sees the strip completely close to vehicles. Runners get the chance to race as the neon lights begin to come up, as it is scheduled to start just as the sun goes down.
Around 58,000 out-of-town visitors are expected to be welcomed to the city for this year’s race, which the LVCVA expects will bring around $214 million to the community. Research has suggested the spring race will attract around 15,000 runners with an economic impact of around $55 million.
The Las Vegas race is one of 25 that take place across the world, with other locations including Cancun, Medellin, Madrid, Shanghai Chongming, and Montreal. Vegas’ take on the event has become the most popular in recent years, as the city completely shuts down the famous strip for the race.
Organizers claim “the party doesn’t stop until the sun goes down” on its website, adding that runners get to discover the sights, lights, and sounds of the famous Las Vegas Strip with zero cars.
The event also has a full line-up of runner entertainment to keep the fun going over the full weekend – including a performance from Kesha on Saturday, a frequent visitor to the city.
One runner tweeted, “Now this is one helluva reward for running a 5k. @KeshaRose playing just for participants of the Rock n Roll marathon weekend. How am I ever supposed to run another 5k now?”
The second marathon was requested by Las Vegas Events, a private event organizing company that is affiliated with the LVCVA board.
Earlier in the meeting, the UFC International Fight Week sponsored by the company was funded $150,000 for events scheduled at T-Mobile Arena and the Downtown Events Center.
This year’s event will mark the ninth year UFC has hosted the week in Las Vegas and it’s expected to draw more than 19,000 visitors having an economic impact of around $60 million.
