Does New York City Need Another Marathon?

Some say it would take away from iconic stature of the ING New York City Marathon.

Not only is the ING New York City Marathon the biggest show in town, it’s the only show in town. But is there room for another marathon in The Big Apple?

Supporters of hosting a second marathon in New York City say another race would give those who got shut out of the popular ING event an opportunity to race in The Big Apple. Also, it would have an almost guaranteed positive economic impact on the city, as major marathons have been shown to pump hundred of millions of dollars into the local economy over the course of one weekend.

Opposition to the addition of a new event say there’s no room for another marathon in New York. Mary Wittenberg, President & CEO of the New York Road Runners, the organization that manages the annual November race, feels that another marathon in New York would take away from the prestigious nature of the 41-year old event.

“There’s a magic to the marathon once a year, you know?” said Wittenberg. “It’s a pretty powerful platform not easily replicated.”

For More: Wall Street Journal