Chicago Event Management
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Chicago Event Management firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chicago Event Management
- Legal name
- Chicago Event Management, Inc.
- Website
- https://cemevent.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chicago Event Management industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Endurance Sports Event Production
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)
- SIC
- Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Road Running Events (Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K/5K) (MPAKAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mass Participation Race Organizers (Runs, Triathlons, Cycling) (MPAKADAD), Ticketing, Registration & Event Technology (Badging, Apps) (BPAFAGAL), Event Marketing, Ticketing & Registration Management (HSACAAAM)
Keywords
Where Chicago Event Management is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Chicago Event Management business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Event Registration Fees: Revenue generated from participant registration fees for endurance events including the Chicago Marathon, Shamrock Shuffle, Chicago 13.1, and Abbott Chicago 5K
- Corporate Sponsorships: Partnership revenue from title sponsors such as Bank of America and presenting sponsors including Abbott, generating significant economic impact ($547 million annually for the Chicago Marathon)
- Charity Program: Charitable donations facilitated through the event's charity program, raising over $322 million since 2002 for local, national, and global causes
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Chicago Event Management product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chicago Event Management produces and operates a portfolio of major endurance running events, anchored by the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (an Abbott World Marathon Major), the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 half marathon, the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K, the Abbott Chicago 5K, and the BTN 10K. The company also provides supporting event production services including equipment rental for organizers and volunteer program management for its race portfolio.
Product overview
Chicago Event Management (CEM) is an endurance sports event production company founded in 1996 that operates a portfolio of major running events. The core product portfolio includes the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (Abbott World Marathon Major), Bank of America Chicago 13.1 (half marathon), Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle (8K), Abbott Chicago 5K, and BTN 10K. Supporting services include a Race Management Program for industry collaboration, equipment rental offerings, volunteer program management, a community newsletter, and a Chicago Area Run/Walk Clubs resource directory. In 2026, CEM announced a strategic partnership with Let's Do This to leverage AI-powered registration technology for managing record-breaking marathon entry demand.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bank of America Chicago Marathon Annual 26.2-mile marathon endurance event operated by Chicago Event Management, attracting 50,000+ finishers annually from all 50 U.S. states and 130+ countries. Designated as one of the original Abbott World Marathon Majors, it offers a spectator-friendly course through Chicago's neighborhoods starting and finishing in Grant Park. Open to elite athletes, recreational runners, and charity fundraisers via individual registration.
- Bank of America Chicago 13.1 Half marathon (13.1-mile) endurance event operated by Chicago Event Management as part of the Chicago Distance Series. Open to runners seeking a marathon-distance alternative with the production quality and community support of the Chicago Marathon brand.
- Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle Annual 8K (8-kilometer) run/walk event operated by Chicago Event Management each March that opens Chicago's outdoor running season. Open to runners and walkers of all skill levels.
- Abbott Chicago 5K 5K running event operated by Chicago Event Management as part of the Chicago Distance Series, sponsored by Abbott. Open to runners and walkers seeking an accessible, community-oriented distance running experience.
- BTN 10K Big Ten Network-branded 10K (10-kilometer) endurance event operated by Chicago Event Management, connecting college athletics with the broader Chicago running community.
- Event Equipment Rental Rental inventory of event production equipment offered by Chicago Event Management to external event organizers, including directional signage, rigging equipment (truss and base), ballast, small generators, and tools. Available to support third-party event production needs.
Quantifiable outcome
- $547 million annual economic impact on Chicago
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Chicago Event Management
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Chicago Event Management technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature1 record
Chicago Event Management partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Let's Do ThiscoreStrategic partnership to manage record-breaking global demand for Chicago Marathon entries using Let's Do This's AI-powered registration technology. The collaboration supports CEM's growth strategy and helps identify new commercial opportunities. Let's Do This already serves as exclusive partner to other Abbott World Marathon Major events including the TCS London Marathon.
- Bank of AmericaflagshipTitle sponsor of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle, and Bank of America Chicago 13.1. The partnership represents a flagship relationship for CEM's core endurance events.
- AbbottflagshipAbbott serves as sponsor for the Abbott Chicago 5K and is the naming partner for Abbott World Marathon Majors, of which the Chicago Marathon is a founding member.
- BTN (Big Ten Network)coreBTN 10K is part of CEM's event portfolio, connecting college athletics with the running community.
- Chevron Houston MarathonminorIndustry partner listed as part of CEM's network of relationships with other major U.S. endurance events for best practices sharing and industry collaboration.
- Girls on the Run ChicagominorNon-profit partner focused on youth running programs and community engagement.
- Banners on a RollminorPreferred vendor partner providing banner and signage services for events.
- iTABminorPreferred vendor partner providing custom race merchandise and memorabilia.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chicago Event Management competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Running USA: Industry trade association for the U.S. running industry, with Nishi on its board. Adjacent industry organization supporting the ecosystem in which CEM operates.
- Let's Do This: AI-powered endurance event registration platform and CEM's exclusive technology partner, also serving other AbbottWMM events like the TCS London Marathon. Ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
Direct peers
- London Marathon Events: Organizer of the TCS London Marathon, a fellow founding member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Compares directly to CEM in operating a flagship World Major with mass global participation and tiered title sponsorships.
- New York Road Runners: Organizer of the TCS New York City Marathon, a fellow founding AbbottWMM member. Operates a comparable portfolio of mass-participation distance running events with similar title sponsor and charity-program revenue models.
- Berlin Marathon (SCC EVENTS): Organizer of the BMW Berlin Marathon, a fellow Abbott World Marathon Major. Comparable to CEM as a European-headquartered peer with mass-participation road running events and title sponsorship economics.
- Boston Athletic Association: Organizer of the Boston Marathon, a fellow founding AbbottWMM member. Directly comparable to CEM in operating a globally iconic mass-participation marathon with elite sponsor economics and a long-running charity program.
- Tokyo Marathon Foundation: Organizer of the Tokyo Marathon, an Abbott World Marathon Major. Directly comparable in scale, sponsorship profile, and mass-participation road running economics.
- Marine Corps Marathon Organization: Organizer of the Marine Corps Marathon, one of the largest U.S. marathons. Compares to CEM in operating a flagship mass-participation road running event with strong community and volunteer infrastructure.
- Houston Marathon Committee: Organizer of the Chevron Houston Marathon, listed by CEM as an industry partner. Directly comparable as another U.S. mass-participation marathon operator with title sponsorship economics.
Broad incumbents
- IRONMAN: Operates a large portfolio of mass-participation endurance events (triathlons, marathons, cycling). A broader incumbent in the endurance event space with overlapping audience but distinct event formats.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chicago Event Management social profiles
Digital presenceChicago Event Management financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chicago Event Management leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Chicago Event Management funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chicago Event Management M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chicago Event Management
What does Chicago Event Management do?
Chicago Event Management produces and operates a portfolio of major endurance running events, anchored by the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (an Abbott World Marathon Major), the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 half marathon, the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K, the Abbott Chicago 5K, and the BTN 10K. The company also provides supporting event production services including equipment rental for organizers and volunteer program management for its race portfolio.
Is Chicago Event Management a public or private company?
Chicago Event Management is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Chicago Event Management founded?
Chicago Event Management was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Chicago Event Management based?
Chicago Event Management is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chicago Event Management make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Event Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships and charity Program.
Who are Chicago Event Management's main competitors?
Others on record are Running USA and Let's Do This. Direct peers are London Marathon Events, New York Road Runners, Berlin Marathon (SCC EVENTS), Boston Athletic Association, Tokyo Marathon Foundation, Marine Corps Marathon Organization and Houston Marathon Committee. IRONMAN is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Chicago Event Management have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chicago Event Management.
What industry is Chicago Event Management in?
Chicago Event Management's product category is Endurance Sports Event Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAIAA, Road Running Events (Marathons, Half Marathons, 10K/5K), with a secondary code of MPAKADAD, Mass Participation Race Organizers (Runs, Triathlons, Cycling). Its NAICS code is 711320 and its SIC code is 7948.