Running News Daily

John Hancock dropping Boston Marathon sponsorship after 2023 race

Insurance company John Hancock is saying goodbye to its role as sponsor of the Boston Marathon after nearly four decades. 

It's a relationship that the company said helped to raise $426 million for charity over 37 years. The contract will end after the 127th running of the iconic marathon, which is scheduled for April 17. 

"Our contract with the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) was expiring in 2023 and after careful review we have chosen not to renew our principal sponsorship of the Boston Marathon after next year’s race," a John Hancock spokesperson said in a statement. "We are honored to have served as a steward for this historic race and thank the B.A.A. for their continued partnership over the years. We are looking forward to the 2023 race as principal sponsor and will work with the B.A.A. to ensure a smooth transition to its next partner."

"The B.A.A. thanks John Hancock for 37 years of partnership, and we continue to work hand in hand in advance of next April’s 127th Boston Marathon," BAA officials said in a written statement. "We're excited to find our next Boston Marathon principal sponsor, and look forward to partnering with an organization who shares our passion for athletic excellence, community engagement, and growing the Boston Marathon to new heights."

John Hancock is also on the verge of ending another decades-long partnership with an iconic Boston institution. The company's lighted sign over the Fenway Park outfield will be coming down at the end of this season, as that 30-year partnership comes to an end.

Starting in 2023, coverage of the annual Massachusetts Patriots' Day race from Hopkinton to Boylston Street will be handled locally by WCVB Channel 5 and nationally by ESPN.

Full statement from the BAA:

"John Hancock has served as principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon for nearly four decades, helping to make the Boston Marathon the global and iconic race it is today. Together with the B.A.A., John Hancock has helped elevate all aspects of our event, from world-class professional athletes to fundraising for hundreds of non-profit programs. The B.A.A. thanks John Hancock for 37 years of partnership, and we continue to work hand in hand in advance of next April’s 127th Boston Marathon.

"At the B.A.A., our commitment to expanding events and creating more running opportunities has never been greater. We're excited to find our next Boston Marathon principal sponsor, and look forward to partnering with an organization who shares our passion for athletic excellence, community engagement, and growing the Boston Marathon to new heights. For 126 years, the Boston Marathon has been the world’s preeminent and most historic marathon. We're enthusiastically eager to embark on the next generation of Boston Marathon partnership."