Runners Expo Forced To Move For 2012 Boston Marathon
BOSTON (CBS) - A little known factor in the operation of Boston's two convention centers is causing a big change in the Boston Marathon plans for 2012.
The Runners Expo, produced by Boston event planning company Conventures, is being forced to move next year's Expo from the Back Bay Hynes Convention Center to the World Trade Center on the waterfront.
The change was first reported in a news story written by this reporter in "The Boston Courant" newspaper.
The free expo and marathon number-pick-up location attracts over 75,000 people in a three-day weekend.
The National Catholic Educators that will bring around 10,000 people to the city takes precedent over the local group, according to the Convention Center Authority policies. Repeated calls to obtain wording of the policy and to get more information on the situation went unanswered.
Conventures and the Boston Athletic Association, which runs the race, tried for the past year to resolve the situation, as a much larger city-wide group, were unsuccessful.
Guy Morse, who handles community relations for the B.A.A said that no decision had been reached on whether bus transportation would be provided to bring people from Back Bay hotels to the Seaport District next year.
According to sources checked by CBSBoston.com, the B.A.A. and Conventures wanted to sign a 10-year contract for use of the Hynes Center, but were precluded from doing so.
About 15 percent of the runners arrive in Boston by air, bus and train. The race next year will take place on Monday, April 16, 2012.
This coincides with Massachusetts' school vacation week that is normally one of the busiest times for travel at Logan Airport. The MBTA's Silver Line running from South Station does not enough capacity to handle the crowds going to The Expo.
WBZ-TV will have exclusive coverage of this year's Marathon on April 18th.
Bob Weiss' 'All Things Travel' reports can be heard on WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
