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Event staff and key volunteers

Welcome to the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Event Staff and Key Volunteer webpage! Below you will find information on the following, which will help you prepare for race week as well as gain a better understanding of event staff expectations.

  • Transportation options
  • Expense reimbursement policy
  • Event staff payments
  • Check-In Information

Transportation Options

Public transportation
Grant Park and the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo are easily accessible by public transit. We highly recommended this option for race week travel. Visit transitchicago.com or metra.com to view schedules and plan your commute.

Parking
If you are driving, you must utilize the event-provided parking options. Other parking expenses will not be reimbursed. The event-provided parking options are listed below:

Course
For event staff and key volunteers working on the course, please coordinate with your captain on the parking that is available near your Aid Station.

Expo
Parking will be available to all Abbott Health & Fitness Expo attendees at McCormick Place Parking Lot C located on Fort Dearborn Drive for a reduced rate of $13. You must have your parking ticket validated by staff located near the entrance of the Health & Fitness Expo to receive the reduced rate. Reimbursement requests for the above parking must be submitted within 14 days of the event. Proper documentation must be provided with reimbursement requests (receipts, trip records, reason for expense, date/times) via email to eventstaff@cemevent.com. Submissions after this date will not be eligible for any expense reimbursement.

Please note, parking is available throughout the McCormick Place campus for $26. Parking Lot C is the only parking lot with the reduced $13 parking rate.

Visit chicagomarathon.com/expoparking for driving directions to McCormick Place Parking Lot C.

Grant Park
Event staff and key volunteers (local and non-local) working the event can park at Millennium Garages and will be provided a voucher upon checking in at your check-in location in Grant Park. The event will not reimburse for parking expenses, unless otherwise approved in advance of the event.

When staff are assigned parking one or more mile(s) away from their assigned hotel accommodation, they can expense a rideshare to their hotel from Millennium Garages.

Bike to Grant Park
Public bike racks are located around the perimeter of Grant Park. Please note that we do not allow bike storage within the Harrison Volunteer Compound.

Divvy stations are located at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Jackson Boulevard, as well as the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive for your convenience. Divvy has provided codes for your use at the event. See below for details on how to redeem.

Event staff and volunteers can use the code TEAMBOA24- to redeem three free rides (up to $5). The code can be redeemed in the Divvy or Lyft app under “rewards”.

On race day, World Bicycle Relief will provide a free bike valet for participants and volunteers at the southeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Van Buren Street. Bikes may be stored starting at 4 a.m. and must be picked up by 4 p.m. Individuals are encouraged to bring a bike lock in the event the Bike Valet has reached capacity.

Expense Reimbursement Policy

The event will provide meals during required work shifts at Packet Pick-up (link to menu) and Grant Park (link to menu). Staff working onsite when meals are provided who decide to forgo the provided meal are not eligible to receive reimbursement. If staff are required to be onsite during a time when meals are not provided or work duties require an individual to miss the provided meal, reimbursement will be provided as follows: up to $15 for breakfast, up to $20 for lunch, up to $35 for dinner. A receipt must be submitted to receive the reimbursement. If you have food allergies, please fill out this form so we can accommodate.

Click here for more information on the event expense reimbursement policy.

Event staff payments

In keeping with best practices, it is our policy to collect a new, completed Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and Certification, within the last three years. If you are new to the event or have moved since the last time you worked with us, please complete a W-9.

Return your completed W-9 via email to eventstaff@cemevent.com or to the Race Office race weekend.  If we have your completed W-9 on file by the event, you can expect to receive your payment within 30 days of the event (Tuesday, November 12, 2024).

Check-In Information

Event staff and key volunteers are required to check in at one of the Aid Stations, Course Marshal Check-In locations, the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo – Volunteer Check-In or the Race Office in Grant Park before reporting to their event roles, depending on what their race week confirmation email details.

Virtual Bag

As you make your preparations for race weekend, we invite you to take advantage of the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon virtual bag! The virtual bag features a variety of discounts and promotions from event sponsors and exhibitors. The virtual bag will close on October 31.

Chicago Event Management produces the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. To learn more about CEM and additional opportunities within the Chicago running community, visit cemevent.com, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @cem.event.