FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HONDA, LA MARATHON ANNOUNCE TITLE SPONSOR AGREEMENT
Three-year partnership includes charitable, service components
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – LA MARATHON LLC and American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
today announced that the Silver Anniversary edition of the Sunday, March
21st race will be known as the Honda Los Angeles Marathon, launching a
three-year partnership that includes naming rights and a variety of
charitable, community service and marketing components. This is the first
time in the marathon's 25-year history that the race will have a title
sponsor. Honda has been a presenting sponsor of the marathon since 1995.
"For the past 14 years, we've been honored to be affiliated with this great
competition and with the manner in which it brings together the entire
greater Los Angeles community," said Tetsuo Iwamura, president and chief
executive officer of Torrance-based American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The new
course shows off some of the best of what Los Angeles has to offer, and is
sure to make the Honda LA Marathon an outstanding, signature event for the
running world, for spectators, and for Southern California alike."
For the first time, this year's "Stadium to the Sea" race course will begin
at Dodger Stadium and finish overlooking the Pacific Ocean near the Santa
Monica Pier, passing through the cities of Los Angeles, West Hollywood,
Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, as well as the federal Veterans'
Administration property. Registration for the race is on record pace, and
organizers have announced a cap of 25,000 runners. The March 21st event is
expected to sell out.
LA MARATHON LLC President Russ Pillar said race officials are thrilled by
the Honda partnership. "It is a privilege to be affiliated with such an
outstanding, well-known company," Pillar said. "Honda's commitment to the
local community is both wide and deep, and having such a distinguished
title sponsor reflects the significant changes we've made to deliver a
great event for all of Los Angeles."
As part of the agreement, the two organizations have agreed to work
together toward furthering the race's charitable component. This initiative
is in keeping with Honda's community service orientation and with the
marathon's strengthened commitment to philanthropy, which owner Frank
McCourt has highlighted since taking stewardship of the race in late 2008.
Already, thousands of participants undertake the race on behalf of charity,
raising much-needed funds for causes from health to the environment to
community-building efforts.
In addition to naming rights for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Honda LA Marathon,
race organizers' agreement with Honda includes a presence at the pre-race
Expo, at celebrations that will be held in neighborhoods throughout the
course, and at a finish line festival at the beach, next to the Santa
Monica Pier. The agreement also includes signage, advertising and a digital
media presence.
As in years past, both the male and female winners of the Honda LA Marathon
will receive a new Honda automobile in addition to the cash prize. Further
details about the prize package will be available closer to race date.
Runners may sign up for the 2010 Honda Los Angeles Marathon at
www.lamarathon.com.
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