Category Archives: Sports

U.S. Marathon Championships

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In 2017 and 2018, Sacramento will be hosting the U.S. Marathon Championships. To be held at the California International Marathon for men and women a $140,000 prize purse (an increase of nearly $100,00 from 2016) will make it the largest prize in event history.

The events – that will take place on December 3 of this year and December 2 of next – will be held together with the 35th and 36th annual California International Marathons. Scott Abbot, Executive Director of Sacramento Running Association was said to have been “honored” at having been selected, especially given that this event is seen as “one of the top performance running events in the country, so it provides the perfect platform for the U.S. Marathon Championship competition.”

However, it should not come as such as surprise since the state has rightfully earned a reputation as featuring one of America’s best running communities. As such, there has been a lot of work undertaken between the Sacramento Running Association, the Sacramento Sports Commission and the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau on the bid in an effort to bring championship running events to the area over the next two to three years.

It is anticipated that the top US distance runners will travel to Sacramento to compete in the event both this and next year, rendering Sacramento as “center stage for professional marathoners from all over the country,” clearly putting the state in a prominent position on the map.

Sacramento to Host NCAA Teams

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Thanks to the new Golden 1 Center, Sacramento – for the first time in 10 yeas – is to be able to host eight NCAA teams.  As Sacramento Sports Commission Director Mike Sophia, the lack of hosting had nothing to do with the relationship between the NCAA and Sacramento.  It was merely a lack of appropriate place.  With the new Center, the problem has now been eliminated.

This of course, is great for the region’s economy too. Sophia believes an estimated $5 million will be spent on that one weekend.  In addition, there is the publicity which is huge since nationwide, there will be millions of TV viewers.  Sophia hopes that this will lead to people who see Sacramento thinking, “yeah I haven’t been there in a while.  I wanna go back.”

Sacramento’s March Madness should have an impact on even individuals who are not sports fan.  As Visit Sacramento’s COO Mike Testa argued:  “They should care for the economic impact. When folks stay in hotel rooms, they pay for a transient occupancy tax. That money goes into the city and county’s general fund. That fund pays for police, fire, improves our park, and improves our road.”

In addition to the NCAA, the C AL HOSA Health Conference is in town, adding to the March Madness, putting hotel room bookings at 7,500 for just one weekend.

Agmen Tour

Sports,

bicycle-raceThis year, the Amgen Tour has returned once more to Sacramento.  Its philosophy, “leading the race to dramatically improve patients’ lives,” makes Sacramento “proud” to be a part of this endeavor.  According to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors’ Chair, Roberta MacGlashan, “Sacramento County is proud to welcome the 2016 Amgen Tour of California back to our capital region.”  With this, the region gets the opportunity to “showcase [its] most beautiful areas and celebrate the tour finale here in California’s capital.”

Also in an unprecedented move, Sacramento on 22nd May hosted the race’s Overall Finish.  During the race, riders cycled south of Jefferson Boulevard, onto Highway 84 and then back to Clarksburg to Sacramento, along the Sacramento River.

The Mayor was equally happy about this event.  Kevin Johnson said:

“The City of Sacramento could not be more proud to welcome back the Amgen Tour of California and we’re excited to switch things up this year with an overall finish! There is no better way to celebrate the glory of the tour, California’s iconic landmarks, attractions and scenery and the finale of California’s most distinguished cycling event here in Sacramento, our state’s capital.”

The event is just one of the region’s attractions, that includes museums, entertainment venues and more, which make up its “culturally diverse cityscape.”