Marathon, tournaments bring big business to the Hub City
JACKSON, Tenn. — Whether it is the Andrew Jackson Marathon that attracts more than 600 runners or the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament, tourists come from all over to join in on the action. “I just decided to jump in my car and do the marathon,” runner Lisa King said. Hotels, restaurants and shopping centers all are benefiting from the big weekend. The Jackson Chamber of Commerce said these events are just two of the attractions in West Tennessee expected to bring in more than 5,000 visitors. A recent study shows the average Tennessee tourist will spend about $184 if they spend the night in a city. Some will use the Andrew Jackson Marathon to qualify for other races, and runners say that is a big factor in participants. “It does draw more,” runner Lynn Burnett said. “I actually qualified here to go to Boston a couple years ago, and this will be my 10th consecutive Boston, and if it wouldn’t have been for this race one year, I wouldn’t have made it.” Others use this race as an opportunity to explore a new place. “It’s a small field, and that’s fun because then you don’t get lost in the crowd,” Cincinnati runner Tamara Smith said. “People are usually really friendly, and that’s fun.” Whatever the reason in running, after winter weather caused businesses and surrounding cities to take a hit in revenue, this weekend could help the deficit.
