Hermosa Beach approves Nike After Dark Tour Run

Hermosa Beach City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to approve the Nike After Dark Tour LA 2026 , placing the global half marathon on the city's calendar for Saturday, October 24, with teardown the following day. The decision ends a month of follow-up negotiations that began after a split March 10 deliberation in which Council members sought stronger answers on resident displacement, business impact, and the size of Nike's financial contribution.

What the event is

The After Dark Tour is a global race series held in six countries, designed as a nighttime running experience for women. The Los Angeles race is the only North American stop on the tour. The event is formatted as a 13.1-mile half marathon with a race window of 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and a four-hour cutoff for finishers. Registration is expected to open later this month.

Nike projects 12,000 runners. In 2025, 43 percent of participants were first-time half marathoners.

The route

The course originates in Redondo Beach, enters Hermosa Beach traveling northbound on Hermosa Avenue, jogs down 10th Street and through Beach Drive past the Beach House Hotel, returns northbound to 15th Street, continues to 25th Street, turns left onto the Strand, and heads south back into Redondo Beach. Pier Plaza is described by Nike as the "pinnacle cheer zone," with runners passing through it twice near the end of the race.

Resident and business impact

Nike's updated presentation included a resident impact count that had not been available in March. According to the figures provided, 143 residential driveways fall directly on the course, 354 residential addresses are landlocked but not directly on the course, 293 driveways and garages are landlocked by road closures, and 409 parking spaces on Hermosa Avenue are subject to temporary suspension during the event.

To address access concerns, Nike is proposing a free shuttle system for landlocked residents. Under the plan, affected residents would pre-register a need to leave or return during the closure window. Nike would reserve a parking space in a nearby lot and provide transport to and from that lot during the event.

The course will maintain a pedestrian access lane along the east side of the Strand throughout the race. Council members discussed allowing intermittent pedestrian crossings at multiple walk streets, staffed by course marshals and flaggers.

The Beach House Hotel sits directly on the race course. Nike confirmed during Tuesday's meeting that following a walk-through earlier that day, it intends to pursue a full buyout of the hotel for race weekend, with the exception of two rooms whose guests are already booked. Those two guests would be "accommodated greatly," Nike said.

Community benefits

Nike's financial contribution totals approximately $30,000 in fees, comprising location fees for street closures, the Strand, and Pier Plaza; a teardown-day fee; and a $50,000 community impact contribution.

In addition, Nike is offering a $50,000 in-kind donation of sports equipment and services to the city, 100 race bibs for Hermosa Beach residents (distribution method to be worked out with staff), 30 bibs for Mira Costa High School, and 30 bibs for Redondo Union High School.

Nike also presented economic impact projections it had shared in March, forecasting $1.8 million to $2.4 million in direct visitor spending, an 18-to-32 percent increase in Saturday revenue for coffee shops and quick-service restaurants, and a 12-to-20 percent increase for retail. The projections are not independently verified. Resident Anthony Higgins, speaking during public comment, questioned whether any city official had validated the figures.

Activation and Logistics

Council asked whether Pier Plaza could be programmed throughout the day rather than only during race hours. Nike said it was "open to hearing any considerations or feedback" and anticipated activating the space before the race, during it, and possibly earlier, including inviting local businesses to operate pop-up booths.

A pedestrian bridge (a steel-span walkway seen in reference photos from a comparable golf tournament) is proposed to allow access from Pier Plaza to the beach in order to minimize disruption. Nike said its preference would be to construct it entirely on race day (Saturday), though a potential Friday setup day for that structure had been raised by staff. Nike said with adequate planning, Saturday-only construction was achievable.

Other items flagged for follow-up include coordination with the Beach Tennis Association tournament scheduled at 14th Street that day, removal of bollards on Beach Drive, and the timing of the rolling street closures. Nike said full closures would be in place by 6 p.m. and all roads would be reopened by 10 p.m., with aid stations and trash cleared within 30 minutes of the final runner and restrooms within 90 minutes.

The two other permitted events occurring on October 24 — IBVL and the beach tennis tournament — are not expected to conflict with the race, staff said.

Nike is formally listed as having "preliminary support" from Redondo Beach, though that city's own approval process is still underway. Manhattan Beach have already decided not to partner with Nike on the event.

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