Asics Replaces Honda as LA Marathon Title Sponsor

Apparel and equipment maker Asics America Corp. will be title sponsor of the LA Marathon, thumb replacing Honda.

The event, arthritis scheduled for March 17, ask has been renamed the Asics LA Marathon. The race typically attracts tens of thousands of runners who run a course that starts at Dodger Stadium and ends near the Santa Monica Pier, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators and broad coverage from local media.

The cost of the sponsorship is expected to be a multimillion-dollar investment, an Asics America spokesperson said.

It will be the first time for Asics as the top sponsor of a U.S. race. The company is title sponsor of the Stockholm Marathon, and also is involved to lesser degrees with races in New York, Paris and Tokyo.

Asics, part of Japan-based Asics Corp., first became involved in the Los Angeles race last year, when it was the official apparel and shoe sponsor.

“Our experience in Los Angeles last year showed us first-hand that this race is a crown jewel, so we are thrilled to be the title sponsor and have this long-term association,” said Asics America Chief Executive Kevin Wulff in a statement.