Boston Marathon - Spectator Policies

Personal Responsibility  | Rules for BAA Venues  |   Spectators in Hopkinton    |   Unauthorized Runners   |   Where to Watch

Spectators intending on watching the  Boston Marathon from anywhere along the 26.2 mile course should expect a significant presence of uniformed and plain clothed police officers. Spectators approaching viewing areas on the course, or in viewing areas on the course, may be asked to pass through security checkpoints, and law enforcement officers or contracted private security personnel may ask to inspect bags and other items being carried. To avoid delays, spectators are encouraged not to carry any of the items listed below. 
 
Additionally, spectators along the entire race route - including in Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline and Boston -- are encouraged to carry personal items in clear plastic bags. Using a clear plastic bag to carry personal items will enhance public safety and speed security screening. In all cases, spectators should keep their personal items under their immediate control at all times. Unattended items may cause delays. 
 
The B.A.A. and all public safety agencies supporting the Boston encourage the public to actively participate in the See Something Say Something campaign. Spectators are asked to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious conductor items to the closest law enforcement officer or by calling 9-1-1. 
 
Spectators along the course are discouraged from possessing any of the items listed below. Possession of any of these items may result in delays when passing through security checkpoints and enhanced screening.

• Weapons or items of any kind that may be used as weapons, including firearms, knives, mace, etc.
• Backpacks or any similar item carried over the shoulder.
• Suitcases and rolling bags/rollers.
• Coolers.
• Glass containers or cans.
• Flammable liquids, fuels, fireworks or explosives.
• Any container capable of carrying more than 1 liter of liquid.
• Handbags or packages or bulky items larger than 12 inches x 12 inches x 6 inches.
• Large blankets/comforters, duvets, sleeping bags.
• Costumes covering the face or any non-form fitting, bulky outfits extending beyond the perimeter of the body.
• Props (including sporting equipment and military and fire gear).

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

The B.A.A. strongly encourages everyone to “Earn A PR” by practicing personal responsibility for the 125th Boston Marathon. From guests traveling with athletes to spectators cheering on participants, everyone is encouraged to take efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These efforts may include being fully vaccinated, getting tested for COVID-19 prior to any travel, wearing a mask when you cannot socially distance over race week, refraining from kissing a stranger around the halfway mark of the Boston Marathon, and only using B.A.A. provided course nutrition in lieu of accepting hydration or food from spectators. Additionally, anyone who develops any symptoms must avoid public activity except for going to get a COVID-19 test.

RULES FOR B.A.A. VENUES

The B.A.A. has several official venues, including the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo in Boston, the invitation-only grand stand seating at the Finish Line, the Athletes' Village in Hopkinton, B.A.A. buses/vehicles (from Boston Common to Hopkinton, and shuttle buses within Hopkinton), and several secure spectator viewing areas around the start line in Hopkinton.

Invitation-Only Grand Stand Seating in Boston: Admittance to the grand stand seating area at the finish line in Boston requires an invitation from the B.A.A. All persons entering the grand stand seating area are subject to security screening, and all bags may be inspected by contracted private security personnel, venue personnel, and law enforcement officers.

Athletes' Village in Hopkinton: The Athletes' Village in Hopkinton is reserved for official entrants in the 2014 Boston Marathon. All persons entering, and in, the Athletes' Village must visibly display an official bib that has been assigned by the B.A.A. Family members and friends of official participants may not enter the Athletes' Village. The rules for Allowable and Prohibited Items for Official Participants on Race Day (see above) apply to all persons in the Athletes' Village. All persons entering the Athletes' Village are subject to security screening by B.A.A. personnel, contracted private security personnel, venue personnel, and law enforcement officers. 

B.A.A. Shuttle Buses from Boston Common to Hopkinton: B.A.A. buses from Boston Common to Hopkinton are reserved for official entrants in the 2014 Boston Marathon. All persons boarding, and on, B.A.A. buses must visibly display an official bib that has been assigned by the B.A.A. Family members and friends of official entrants may not board or be on the B.A.A. buses. The rules for Allowable and Prohibited Items for Official Participants on Race Day (see above) apply to all persons on B.A.A. buses. All persons boarding or on B.A.A. buses are subject to security screening by B.A.A. personnel, contracted private security personnel, venue personnel, and law enforcement officers.

B.A.A. Shuttle Buses in Hopkinton: The B.A.A. will operate runner and spectator Shuttle Buses in Hopkinton. 
B.A.A. Runner Shuttle Buses (Hopkinton Only): The B.A.A. will operate runner shuttle buses from South Street in Hopkinton to the Athletes' Village. Runner shuttle buses are reserved for official entrants in the 2014 Boston Marathon. All persons boarding, and on, B.A.A. runner shuttle buses must visibly display an official bib that has been assigned by the B.A.A. Family members and friends of official entrants may not board, or be on, B.A.A. runner shuttle buses. The rules for Allowable and Prohibited Items for Official Participants on Race Day (see above) apply to all persons on B.A.A. runner shuttle buses. All persons boarding, or on, B.A.A. runner shuttle buses are subject to security screening by B.A.A. personnel, contracted private security personnel, venue personnel, and law enforcement officers. 

B.A.A. Shuttle Buses (Hopkinton Only): The B.A.A. also will operate shuttle buses to downtown Hopkinton from Hopkinton State Park and the MBTA commuter rail station. Spectators and runners may utilize these shuttle buses. Spectators and runners boarding, or on, these B.A.A. buses are prohibited from carrying:

• Weapons or items of any kind that may be used as weapons, including firearms, knives, mace, etc.
• Backpacks or any similar item carried over the shoulder.
• Suitcases and rolling bags/rollers.
• Coolers.
• Glass containers or cans.
• Flammable liquids, fuels, fireworks or explosives.
• Any container capable of carrying more than 1 liter of liquid.
• Handbags or packages larger than 12 inches x 12 inches x 6 inches.
• Large blankets/comforters, duvets, sleeping bags. Any type of mask or costume that covers the face.
• Costumes covering the face or any non-form fitting, bulky outfits extending beyond the perimeter of the body.
• Props (including sporting equipment and military and fire gear).

Spectators boarding, or on, B.A.A. shuttle buses may carry a clear plastic bag containing personal items. Using a clear plastic bag will enhance public safety and expedite the security screening process. All persons boarding, or on, B.A.A. shuttle buses are subject to security screening by B.A.A. personnel, contracted private security personnel, venue personnel, and law enforcement officers.

In all cases, runners and spectators should keep their personal items under their immediate control at all times. Unattended items may cause delays.
 

SPECTATORS IN HOPKINTON

Several viewing areas in Hopkinton will have heightened security rules. Spectators entering these areas will be required to pass through security checkpoints and all bags and items being carried will be subject to screening by B.A.A. personnel, contracted private security personnel, venue personnel, and law enforcement officers. Spectators are strongly encouraged to carry personal items in clear plastic bags. Using a clear plastic bag to carry personal items will enhance public safety and speed security screening. In all cases, spectators should keep their personal items under their immediate control at all times. Unattended items may cause delays.

Spectators entering, and in, these viewing areas may not possess any of the following items:

Weapons or items of any kind that may be used as weapons, including firearms, knives, mace, etc.
Backpacks or any similar item carried over the shoulder.
Suitcases and rolling bags/rollers.
Coolers.
Glass containers or cans.
Flammable liquids, fuels, fireworks or explosives.
Any container capable of carrying more than 1 liter of liquid.
Handbags or packages or bulky items larger than 12 inches x 12 inches x 6 inches.
Large blankets/comforters, duvets, sleeping bags.
Costumes covering the face or any non-form fitting, bulky outfits extending beyond the perimeter of the body.
Props (including sporting equipment and military and fire gear).
 

RULES FOR UNAUTHORIZED PARTICIPANTS

For the safety of our participants, spectators, and partners, public safety officials and the B.A.A. strictly prohibit unofficial participation, and those in violation will be subject to interdiction. Those who are not officially registered in the Boston Marathon will not be allowed to participate. We ask official participants to discourage family and friends who are not officially registered participants from entering the course in any manner.

We are aware that many people want to participate in some way in this year's Boston Marathon as a display of support, but we ask that those who are not official participants to refrain from entering the course for the safety of the runners and themselves. There are several other opportunities which enable a show of support for the Boston Marathon, including the B.A.A. 5K on April 19, the Boston Marathon World Run, attending the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo, volunteering, or spectating.

Anyone on the course for any distance who has not been assigned, or is not displaying, an officially issued bib number from the B.A.A. is subject to interdiction. The B.A.A. reserves the right to remove any person from the course who is not displaying an official bib that has been assigned by the B.A.A. Similarly, units or groups such as military ruck-marchers and cyclists, which have sometimes joined on course, will not be allowed to participate.

(Source: BAA.org)