5 February, 2020
Hopkinton’s Select Board announced Tuesday night that the 26.2 Foundation is the winner of the competitive
bid process to build and operate an International Marathon Center (IMC) at 45 East Main Street. The Town of
Hopkinton issued a Request for Proposals from qualified organizations in July 2019 to lease 45 East Main
Street, a parcel gifted to the Town by Legacy Farms LLC, for an IMC. "The 26.2 Foundation submitted a very
strong and very detailed proposal that met or exceeded the requirements of the Request for Proposals. The
vision of the IMC displays the many benefits to the community and the MetroWest region", said Town Manager
Norman Khumalo.
The IMC will include a museum, hall of fame, an auditorium, conference and event space, exhibition halls, as
well as education and research space. These spaces will be available for use by business, education, and
private community groups. "The IMC is a great opportunity for the Town that will bring commerce, positive
energy, and notoriety to Hopkinton. The IMC will showcase to the world what an amazing community
Hopkinton is. Not just for the one week in April during the Marathon, but all year long" said Select Board Chair
Brendan Tedstone.
Located less than a mile from the start of the Boston Marathon, the IMC will be uniquely connected to the
international event that ties into the fabric of the community. "Hopkinton welcomes over 30,000 runners each
year for the start of the Boston Marathon. Hopkinton is the ideal place for creating this amazing world-class
facility that honors the immense impact of this one of a kind international event and the sport of running. My
colleagues on multiple town boards and I have supported the creation of an IMC for many years, and are
pleased to bring its creation one step closer to reality" said Select Board Vice-Chair John Coutinho.
The unanimous Select Board vote was subject to (1) the successful negotiation of a lease between the Town
and the 26.2 Foundation, (2) the 26.2 Foundation providing information sufficient to satisfy the Town with
regard to the Feasibility Conditions set forth in in the RFP; and (3) Town Meeting approval; if approved by the
2020 Annual Town Meeting, the IMC is expected to open its doors by the April 2024 Boston Marathon.
For more information contact the Town of Hopkinton Procurement and Grants Manager, Benjamin Sweeney, at
bsweeney@hopkintonma.gov or 508-625-3497.
About the 26.2 Foundation: Founded in 1996, the 26.2 Foundation is dedicated to promoting and supporting
the sport of marathoning, as well as health, wellness and economic development initiatives through strategic
investments in innovative, multi-generational programs on local, regional, national, and global levels
