Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - They'll try! Organizers of the annual Buffalo Marathon are hoping to be able to hold an in person marathon event Memorial Day weekend.
Marathon Executive Director Greg Weber, in an anticipated Facebook Live address Saturday, offered some clarity on the event which has been up in the air since the 2020 race event was postponed March 23rd.
Not only do the plans to hopefully hold an in-person race this year give hope to the thousands of runners who were were registered for the 2020 event, but it gives the organization some hope for much needed financial stability as well.
"We lost 43 percent of our revenue," said Weber in his address to runners. "Most of you register in those last sixty days, so we've been scrambling to keep the organization alive."
The 2021 event would be the 20th anniversary for the Buffalo Marathon and will be completely contingent on following necessary COVID guidelines for an in person event. "Our number one priority is to produce a safe event for everyone involved and gain the approval of the State, County and City to hold it."
To control density for the event, Weber says only 500 additional slots will be opened up for registration. Those additional registrations will be at a discounted rate but will also carry a requirement to fund-raise for Kaleida Health.
The 5300 current registrants from 2020 may choose to defer their participation to 2022, 2023 or 2024 and may also sell or transfer their registration with no penalty.
In the event the race can't be held Memorial Day, organizers have identified June 26, 27 and August 28, 29 as back up race dates.
Registration opens Monday and is available on the race site here.
