New balance and New York road runners announce multi-year alliance featuring sponsorship of events and youth running initiatives

BOSTON, MA and #newyork, NY DECEMBER 8, 2015 – #newbalance and #newyorkroadrunners (NYRR) announced a new multi-year agreement today that features year-round engagements with NYRR events, programs and youth #running initiatives. The new relationship, which will launch gradually in 2016 and reach full engagement in 2017, covers a wide range of areas including event sponsorship, youth programming, global licensing as well as e-commerce and retail rights for footwear and apparel. The alliance will bring together New Balance’s innovative athletic products and one of the world’s leading #running organizations to serve the global #running community in a new and inspiring way.

In 2016, #newbalance will expand upon its current official footwear and apparel sponsorship of the Airbnb Brooklyn Half by becoming the title #sponsor of the #newbalance Bronx 10-Mile and the #newbalance 5th Avenue Mile. #newbalance will also work together with NYRR on the opening of the new NYRR #running center, set to open later in 2016 near Columbus Circle. The #running center will serve as the hub for NYRR runner services and will feature an exciting #newbalance retail component. 

Then in 2017, #newbalance becomes an NYRR foundation partner and the Official Athletic Footwear and Apparel Partner of NYRR. The year-round engagement will feature sponsorship of the NYRR Five-Borough Series (United Airlines NYC Half, Airbnb Brooklyn Half, NYRR Queens 10K, #newbalance Bronx 10-Mile and NYRR Staten Island Half), NYRR Heritage Races (NYRR #newyork Mini 10K, #newbalance 5th Avenue Mile and the NYRR Midnight Run) and the TCS #newyork City Marathon. #newbalance will also be a #sponsor of NYRR’s weekly races, as well as exclusively produce all race shirts for runners throughout the year, a first for NYRR.  Additionally beginning in 2017, #newbalance will manage NYRR’s e-commerce platform.

“New Balance and #newyorkroadrunners share a commitment to quality, innovation and giving back to the communities they are a part of,” says Rob DeMartini, President and CEO of #newbalance. “We are proud to join forces with an organization where we align on many core values and look forward to offering the best in #newbalance gear to the global runners participating in NYRR events throughout the year.”

“This year-round alliance is a first in the category for #newyorkroadrunners and was made possible by our unified vision of a world where people of all ages and abilities benefit from #running,” said Michael Capiraso, President and CEO of #newyorkroadrunners. “We’re excited to partner with #newbalance on our continuing efforts to get kids moving in a fun and rewarding way while serving the global #running community with world-class programming and innovative athletic products.”

As a highlight of the two organizations shared values and commitment to youth health and fitness, once the new NYRR #running center opens, for every pair of #newbalance shoes sold at the NYRR #running center, NYRR and #newbalance plan to donate an additional pair to youngsters in need throughout the five boroughs of #newyork City. To celebrate the new relationship, Team #newbalance athlete Jenny Simpson, 4-time champion of the NYRR 5th Avenue Mile, participated in a #running clinic with a NYRR Mighty Milers class at PS114 in the Bronx, showcasing the spirit of the long-term agreement.

“The new relationship between #newbalance and #newyorkroadrunners presents many exciting opportunities for runners and fans alike,” said Peter Ciaccia, President of Events for #newyorkroadrunners and Race Director of the TCS #newyork City Marathon. “From creating distinctive pre-race experiences and events, to pioneering new approaches to youth #running, to amplifying our television broadcasts, the sky’s the limit.”

About New Balance

New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA has the following mission: Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and communities are proud to host. #newbalance is the only major company to make or assemble more than 4 million pairs of athletic footwear per year in the USA, which represents a limited portion of our US sales. Where the domestic value is at least 70%, we label our shoes Made in the USA. #newbalance owns five factories in New England and one in Flimby, U.K. #newbalance employs more than 5,000 associates around the globe, and in 2014 reported worldwide sales of $3.3 billion. To learn more about #newbalance, please visit www.newbalance.com

About #newyork Road Runners

Founded in 1958, #newyorkroadrunners has grown from a local #running club to the world’s premier community #running organization, whose mission is to help and inspire people through #running. NYRR’s commitment to #newyork City’s five boroughs features races, community events, youth #running initiatives, school programs, and training resources that provide hundreds of thousands of people each year, from children to seniors, with the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to Run for Life. NYRR’s premier event, and the largest marathon in the world, is the TCS #newyork City Marathon. Held annually on the first Sunday in November, the race features 50,000 runners, from the world’s top professional athletes to a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is the Premier Partner of #newyorkroadrunners. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.