United Airlines has announced a deal with the New York Road Runners organization to be presenting sponsor of its flagship race, the NYC Half.
This follows a familiar strategy in New York, as United partners with New York Road Runners as sponsors of other road races including the Brooklyn Half, the Queens 10K, the Bronx 10-Mile and the Staten Island Half.
Rival carrier American Airlines is a main sponsor of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, which takes place this coming weekend.
The agreement with NYRR for the NYC Half gives United Airlines extensive branding exposure on race numbers, participants’ shirts, finish line amenities and signage along the route of the race.
The NYC Half is one of the Big Apple’s top participant sporting events, attracting over 20,000 runners from 65 countries last year.
Welcoming the tie-up with United, John Gassner, vice president of business development and strategic partnerships for the New York Road Runners said: "As title sponsor of our signature half-marathon — the United Airlines NYC Half — along with activation around NYRR’s Five-Boroughs Series and the TCS New York City Marathon, United Airlines is now uniquely positioned as a key supporter in the running community."
