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Council approves revised LA Marathon course despite calls to keep Hollywood portion
Summary
The City Council approved a reconfigured LA Marathon route proposed by race organizers, prompting debate from members who said removing Hollywood would reduce the event's showcase value.
The Los Angeles City Council approved a change to the LA Marathon route after debate about whether the course should continue to run through Hollywood.
Councilmember Holden, who introduced the amendment, said the flatter proposed course would help attract elite international runners who prefer routes comparable to other major marathons. "Maybe we can get some higher class runners," Holden said, arguing the change would help the race's competitive standing and economic impact.
Councilmember Garcetti and others opposed removing Hollywood from the route, saying the area draws large crowds and television viewers. "We're really missing an opportunity to showcase Los Angeles ... I would hate to miss an entire decade," Garcetti said, asking the council to keep a Hollywood segment in the televised course.
Organizers told the council they preferred approval at the meeting because national and international sanctioning and publicity deadlines make early certainty important. Members debated whether to continue the item for further discussion; a motion to continue failed and the council ultimately adopted the revised course as presented by the marathon organizers.
The clerk recorded the final outcome as adopted; the recorded roll call after the final vote was 9 ayes and 2 noes. The council also directed staff to continue discussions with organizers about future course adjustments that could restore a Hollywood segment in later years.
Speakers and concerns: The debate focused on trade-offs between elite-competitor preferences and local community visibility. Members raised timing and logistical constraints for sanctioning, the race's economic impact on downtown, and the desire to preserve the Hollywood showcase for viewers.
Implementation: The council approved the course change for the upcoming race and instructed race organizers and city staff to finalize permitting and to keep the council informed about outreach and publicity steps.
No amendments to local law were required; the action authorized the event routing and associated city coordination.
