Running through history at the Penn Relay Carnival
Travis Sheehan talks community, passion and partnership at America's oldest and largest track and field event
Philadelphia native Travis Sheehan brings local pride to his role as Manager, Key Partnerships at Penn Sports Properties at JMI Sports. A graduate in Sports Management of the city’s Drexel University, Sheehan's career has encompassed roles at Rutgers University Athletics, Philadelphia Flyers and Comcast Spectacor. In his current role since 2021, his focus is the Penn Relay Carnival, one of the most prestigious track and field events in the world.
On growing up in Philadelphia and experiencing the Penn Relay Carnival and community…
Penn Relays is deeply woven into the fabric of Philadelphia. It's not just an elite track event that hosts world-class athletes like Ajeé Wilson, Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt; it's a community festival. It's where local amateurs and pros alike gather, making it a standout event that encapsulates the spirit of the sport. The city itself has so many things that are uniquely Philly, including Penn Relays, and it feels like a big neighbourhood. If you ran track and field in middle school or high school, the chances are you ran at the Penn Relays, whether you were an elite athlete or not. So, the Relays have a really great community feel on top of being this world-class event. It's the Super Bowl for track and field in the States and it’s on Penn's campus in Philly every year.
On the event’s rich history and depth of athletes…
The Penn Relays is the oldest and largest amateur track and field event in the world, predating the modern Olympics. This is the 128th running of our event, and it’s on for young and old. Last year we had about 13,700 high-school athletes, about 3000 collegiate athletes and about 1000 professional athletes and we have Masters runners as well.
On the Carnival’s lasting partnership with Rekortan…
Rekortan has been integral to the Penn Relays since 1988, providing a top-tier track surface that has seen countless record-breaking performances. This partnership aligns two rock-solid stalwarts in athletics, both known for longstanding excellence. It's a partnership that enhances the quality and heritage of the event.
On what makes for a great partnership…
The most rewarding for me is that our partners are fully invested, and what I mean by that is they're not just showing up and handing out a key chain or just checking a box because their boss told them to be here for the three days. Our partners are excited to be here because they live and breathe the track and field community and they're all part of it, which creates the most successful and longstanding and impactful partnerships. It’s about more than just branding, it's about engagement and shared passion. Our partners don't just participate, they immerse themselves in the event.
“Our partners are excited to be here because they live and breathe the track and field community and they’re all part of it, which creates the most successful and longstanding and impactful partnerships.”
On the activations planned for this year's event…
Rekortan has been doing the coaches’ hospitality suite for the last couple of years, which is a favourite and I know the coaches appreciate it. This year, we're expanding our activations, including a new coach's expo, in addition to the hospitality suite, making a kind of hub for coaches. The Carnival Village will be bustling, with various partners offering interactive experiences, from fitness challenges to product giveaways. It's about creating a vibrant hub that complements the excitement on the track.
On the event’s large crowds and the vagaries of Philadelphia weather…
We’re introducing global relays to add an international flair, and that’s expected to draw larger crowds looking to see some pre-Olympic warm-ups. The Relays are always on the last Thursday, Friday and Saturday in April, which can be both a blessing and a curse weather-wise, with potentially four seasons in one day, so we absolutely hope to manifest good weather to match these high-calibre races! With these new elements, we anticipate attendance could surpass 110,000 over the three days, making it one of the most memorable Penn Relays yet.
On his favourite memory from the Penn Relays…
My standout memory would be from my first Penn Relays in charge, witnessing a fiercely competitive high school girls' race, which was neck and neck. The atmosphere was electric and fuelled by passionate Jamaican fans seated at turn four, and when these fans saw the Jamaican girls turn and enter the last 100m, the roar was just unforgettable. Their passion just totally pulled me into the race. It encapsulated the intense community spirit and the global impact of this historic event. This is absolutely an event that has a soul, and with races like this, you can feel it.
This blend of rich tradition, community spirit and dynamic partnerships makes the Penn Relay Carnival a pivotal event in the track and field world and a celebration of athletic excellence.
The 2024 Penn Relay Carnival takes place April 25 to 27.
Learn more about Rekortan's historic partnership with the Penn Relays here.