The Dublin Marathon has secured headline sponsorship with the announcement that Airtricity is to take over the naming rights for this years race to be run on Bank Holiday Monday, October 28th.
Airtricity is already a major supporter of sport through sponsorship of the Airtricity Premier League, as the official energy partner of the FAI and through local support for clubs via its Wind Farm Community grants scheme.
The Marathon had previously been supported at this level by Adidas and, until 2011 by the National Lottery but when it withdrew from the race no backer was found in time for 2012.
Race founder and organiser Jim Aughney was forced earlier this year into raising the entry fee for the race, for the first time in nine years, from €70 to €75 and to cut back on the elite athlete programme that had become a part of it.
The race remains very popular though and last year drew over 14,000 participants. The addition of a race series which this year will include three races in the Phoenix Park from five to 13 miles starting this Saturday, and a 10K run in Swords, will also be run under the Airtricity Race Series banner.
20,000 competed in this series in 2012. It has added to the time frame of the main event at a time when so many other competing events have been created or boosted and probably proved one of the key attractions for Airtricity as they chose to become involved.
The main race will also include the Woodies DIY National Marathon Championships.
The economic value of the Airtricity Dublin Marathon to the city and county of Dublin over the October Bank Holiday weekend is estimated at over €10 million, and it had already secured funding and support from Dublin City Council through its nomination as a flagship Gathering event.
“We are delighted to have Airtricity on board as our new title sponsor this year, said Race Founder and Director Jim Aughney. “Airtricity shares our vision and aims for the growth of the Dublin Marathon. It is a huge endorsement of what we have achieved to date, and strong support for our development plans, to have such a sponsor involved. Airtricity has a great history of supporting events in Ireland and we look forward to developing a long-term relationship with them.”
“We are delighted that Airtricity is the new energy behind this well-loved Dublin and national sporting event,” added Airtricity CEO Stephen Wheeler who himself completed his first Marathon in the 2011 race.
“Airtricity is a proud supporter of Irish Sport at all levels. We’re doing more to give back to local and national sporting clubs and events. Now, through our sponsorship of the Airtricity Dublin Marathon, we’re helping to support the marathon and race series at this important stage in its development and growth.”
Sport for Business will look at how Airtricity will make the sponsorship work to best effect as part of our ‘Making Sponsorship Work’ Series later in the year
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