Rhode Race & Events Inc., d/b/a Newport Rhode Races, has submitted an application for a special event license for a marathon/half marathon and 5k beginning and ending at Easton’s Beach on April 16, 2017.
Rhode Race & Events Inc. is a company that former employees of Eident Sports Marketing reportedly created after Eident “went out of business”.
Eident operated the Newport Marathon for many years until damage was done to the dunes at Easton’s Beach that resulted in an almost $5,000 fine and some other issues, including accepting registrations for the event before having a permit to hold the race. Eident also ran into issues with accepting registrations for a race in Providence, when Mayor Elorza refused to grant the company a special event permit because they owed the city $30,000.
Ultimately, Newport City Council approved a special event license application by Gray Matter Marketing of Newport, RI to host a marathon in Newport. Gray Matter Marketing hosted the event in 2015 and will host the Newport Marathon on October 9, 2016.
In the Special Events Application, Susan Rancourt of Rhode Race & Events (Warren, RI) has documented that the expected attendance is 2,000, hours of the event would be from 7:30am to 1:30pm on April 16, 2017 (with setup on April 14th & 15th), that streets would be restricted but not closed and that liquor will be served.
This item of business, filed with the City Clerk under the Rules of the Council, will go before the Council at its regular meeting to be held at the Pell Elementary School on April 27, 2016, at 6:30 p.m.