The San Diego-based Competitor Group and San Diego Padres officially announced today that the finish for the 16th annual year's Rock'n'Roll Marathon and Half-Marathon will be at Petco Park.
The races, which feature bands and cheerleaders along its 26.2-mile route, ended downtown in its initial runnings. The route was later shifted to finish at the Naval Training Center, Marine Corps Recruit Depot and SeaWorld San Diego.
The 16th annual races, scheduled for June 2, will end at the ballpark. A festival and post-race concert will take place inside the stadium. The start is normally located in Balboa Park.
"We feel this is a tremendous opportunity to provide a much more accessible event experience for our runners,'' Competitor Group President and CEO Scott Dickey said. "With more than 65 percent of all event participants traveling from outside the region, and a majority staying in downtown hotels, this new finish line venue at Petco Park, combined with our health and fitness expo at the Convention Center, will conveniently showcase America's Finest City.''
Among the advantages will be that runners will be able to take the trolley from the finish line. Race organizers in the past had to be provided buses, a service they said might be eliminated this year.
Course changes to the races, which benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, will be announced later.
