Sponsor-Poor L.B. Marathon Is ‘Postponed Indefinitely’

The headline in the event’s fall newsletter that arrived Tuesday read, “The Long Beach Marathon Is Alive And Well And Running . . . Feb. 4, 1996.”

Talk about bad timing!

The marathon’s board of governors said Tuesday that the 15th running of the event was “postponed indefinitely” because of declining sponsorship money.

“The board refuses to conduct the event unless we can maintain its status as one of the finest distance races in the U.S.,” said Barry McDaniel, president of the Long Beach Marathon Board. “When we didn’t receive appropriate financing by late November, it was overly optimistic to assume we’d generate the necessary dollars in time for the February race.”

McDaniel said sponsor commitments totaled about $160,000, well short of the $293,000 needed to finance the 1996 race. Runners’ entry fees account for only 30% of the race’s budget.

“Community support has dwindled over the years,” McDaniel said. “We’ve also found it difficult to fight the Olympics for money next year.”

With a depressed economy, several local sponsors decided against renewing funding commitments for the 15th race, so the organizers decided to try major sponsors who have a history of supporting distance-running events.

“Most of the majors were tied up with the Olympics,” said Oscar Edwards, in charge of fund-raising for the Long Beach Marathon. “Other sponsors are shifting their money to other things. It’s been tough.”

The marathon faced a similar fate a year ago.

“But we pulled together some money at the last minute,” Edwards said.