SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) -
The contract to hold the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and Half Marathon in Savannah has been extended through 2016.
It is an extension of the original three-year contract that was for 2011-2013 and was signed in 2010.
The first year of the race in 2011 had an estimated $32 million economic impact on Savannah and the Coastal Empire, according to a study commissioned by Competitor Group Inc., which runs Rock 'n' Roll series of races around the country.
In 2011, marathon and half marathon had more than 19,000 participants and in 2012, the event had more than 17,000 registered runners, according to Visit Savannah.
"The true benefit of this event coming to town is the exposure that Savannah benefits from in the worldwide marketing efforts for the Rock ‘n' Roll Marathon series," said Joseph Marinelli, of Visit Savannah, in a statement "and the fact that with more than 81% out-of-market participation, the runners and their families are the ideal demographic of visitor that will come back to our city in the future, stay longer and spend more while they are here."
Savannah was the Competitor Group's first race destination in the Southeast and remains its smallest destination, according to Visit Savannah.
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