THE BIG STORY![\"NEW](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IHJ57YOG5JGJLDIFHRB5AYV4IU.jpg\")
The 2026 New York City Marathon is celebrating its 50th year as it closes in on Sunday’s race. Anadolu via Getty Images <\/p>\n
Marketing and sponsorship plans for the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday are in their final quarter-mile sprint, writes SBJ\u2019s Terry Lefton, as parent nonprofit New York Road Runners is boasting a record 60,000 runners this year in what remains the world\u2019s biggest marathon. The event had a record 59,226 finishers last year.<\/p>\n
The 50th anniversary of the NYC Marathon will move across all five boroughs as it has since 1976. NYRR\u2019s newest brand effort, \u201cBelieve in Every Step,\u201d will debut its first TV ad within the marathon telecast, which is shown locally by WABC-TV and nationally on ESPN2<\/a> and the ESPN app. <\/p>\n Also new to the marketing side this year is \u201c50 Years Through the Five Boroughs,\u201d a four-day marathon activation in Grand Central Terminal\u2019s Vanderbilt Hall on Oct. 27-30 from 8am-7pm ET that will include a replica of the course and experiential ties themed to each borough and linked to sponsors: Queens sponsored by TCS; The Bronx presented by online travel marketplace GetYourGuide; Brooklyn sponsored by payroll employee benefits and HR online platform Justworks; Staten Island presented by Volvo with the EX90 official pace car; and Manhattan with Shake Shack sponsoring.<\/p>\n Read the full story >><\/a><\/p>\n 5 STORIES WE\u2019RE WATCHING<\/p>\n 1. Sources: PGA Tour, Visa on verge of massive sponsorship<\/a>: Financial terms were unavailable, but sources expected the deal would be in the high-eight figures annually over multiple years, which could put it on par or even more than Visa\u2019s sponsorships of FIFA for the World Cup or the IOC.<\/p>\n 2. Brewers clinch first World Series in franchise history in a win for small markets<\/a>: Milwaukee became the first small-market franchise to win the Fall Classic since the 2015 Royals with a 4-1 victory Wednesday night over the Rays. Miller Lite is celebrating the Brewers\u2019 title with limited-edition cans filled with the beer that was being brewed in Milwaukee the moment the team clinched.<\/p>\n 3. \u2018Inside the NBA\u2019 celebrates Ernie Johnson after announcement of his final season<\/a>: Wednesday night\u2019s edition of \u201cInside the NBA\u201d on ESPN opened with host Ernie Johnson explaining his decision to leave the show at the end of the season, with co-hosts Shaquille O\u2019Neal and Kenny Smith offering words of appreciation and Charles Barkley holding back tears. <\/p>\n 4. David Berson sets leadership team within new Skydance Global Sports Group<\/a>: Jeff Gerttula is taking on the new role of EVP and managing director; Bleacher Report GM Bennett Spector will join Gerttula\u2019s team and continue to oversee B\/R and House of Highlights; and WBD SVP\/Digital League Business Operations, Growth and Innovation Yang Adija also will join Gerttula\u2019s team. <\/p>\n 5. Sports Illustrated Tickets creates resale platform<\/a>: SeatH, which will first focus on NFL tickets before expanding to more sports, seeks to eliminate the fan pain point of selling their tickets by broadening reach to other major platforms and automating pricing.<\/p>\n ON THE MOVEThe MLB Players Association named Michael White as Interim CFO. Tatia Mays-Russell had been the MLBPA CFO since July 2020, though it is unclear why she left. White had been VP\/finance and operations for the union\u2019s business arm, MLB Players Inc., since May 2025 (Mike Mazzeo, SBJ<\/a>).Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs named his son, CEO Charlie Jacobs, as the team\u2019s governor. Jeremy Jacobs had represented the club on league matters as the team\u2019s governor since he bought the team 51 years ago. Jeremy Jacobs relinquished his role of chairman of the NHL Board of Governors in September, ceding the spot to Capitals owner Ted Leonsis (Boston Herald). Former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy was tapped to replace Peter Rice as head of ceremonies and content for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. LA28 confirmed that Rice, who is taking over as Netflix\u2019s chief content officer, will stay on as executive producer (Hollywood Reporter).The Japan Football Association announced that VP Takeshi Okada has resigned before the end of his term. Sources said that he departed due to dissatisfaction over several issues involving FIFA at this summer\u2019s World Cup, as well as the JFA\u2019s response (Kyodo News).NAMES IN THE NEWSThe Dan Marino Foundation, Pro Football HOFer Dan Marino and his wife, Claire, are integrating the organization into the Community Foundation of Broward through a permanent, multimillion-dollar endowment, the Dan Marino Foundation Fund (South Florida Business Journal).Issaquah Mayor Mark Mullet and former Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs unveiled the new street sign \u201cRick Rizzs Road\u201d during a dedication ceremony Tuesday afternoon at Issaquah Little League\u2019s Dodd Field (Seattle Times).HOT READS<\/p>\n