Internet reacts to 2025 Boston Marathon celebration jacket

The Boston Athletic Association took a gamble with their design for the 2025 marathon jacket.

The Boston Marathon celebration jacket from Adidas has been a cherished tradition at the race since 1991, becoming a symbol of accomplishment for runners who conquer the course each year. This year’s jacket, however, has the running world up in arms after the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) decided to move away from the iconic stitched B.A.A. logo to a printed Bank of America-centric crest on the front and back.

While the jacket boasts sustainable credentials as the first made entirely from recycled polyester material, many runners are more focused on the design. Bank of America, which became the race’s presenting sponsor in 2023 after nearly four decades under insurance company John Hancock, is being criticized for its branding. The jacket’s “Lucid Blue” design, paired with the B.A.A.’s traditional royal blue base, has also drawn mixed reviews. Some see it as a vibrant refresh, while others seem to have wanted a more timeless esthetic.

Reactions to the jacket have been making their circles on social media. “I have been extremely disappointed in the branding since Bank of America came into play,” wrote one user on Facebook. “First messing with the unicorn, now barfing corporate branding all over everything,” Another commenter wrote, “For 2026, are we going to see how many Bank of America logos we can fit on people? Nothing says tradition and prestige like Bank of America.”

The 2024 Boston Marathon celebration jacket was the first edition in which Bank of America was featured, with the bank’s logo screen printed below the traditional B.A.A. crest. In addition to the jacket’s sustainable footprint, the logos on the front and back are entirely reflective, along with the three stripes on the sleeve and the “Boston is my victory” idiom on the left cuff.

Despite the backlash, the 2025 Boston Marathon jacket remains a hot commodity. For runners eager to get their hands on one, it’s available online for CAD $160. Whether you love it or hate it, the jacket remains a badge of honour for thousands.

posted Thursday December 5th