Council approves Nike's After Dark Tour LA stop in Hermosa Beach amid resident access assurances

The Hermosa Beach City Council voted unanimously April 14 to add Nike's After Dark Tour LA to the city's 2026 special events calendar, approving the Oct. 24 half-marathon with staff-directed operational conditions.

Councilmembers and staff said they secured commitments from the event producer for rolling closures, resident shuttle access, pedestrian bridges at Pier Plaza and communications with affected businesses. Nike representatives told the council the event would include course marshals, licensed traffic control, a comprehensive business-and-resident notification plan and a proposed $50,000 community impact contribution plus location fees totaling about $80,000.

The presentation by city staff and Nike outlined a route that crosses Hermosa Avenue, the Strand and Pier Plaza, with planned measures to preserve parking access and limit residential impacts. Nike outlined resident shuttle pickups, on-course aid stations, rolling load-out to complete teardown within 30'90 minutes for most infrastructure, and a proposed buyout of the Beach House Hotel for event hospitality.

Public commenters were mixed: some businesses along the route urged approval, citing prior positive experience, while other residents and virtual commenters raised concerns about driveway/parking access, the true net financial benefit to the city and the burden of staff time. Council members pressed Nike on contingency plans for removable gates and bollards, pedestrian egress at peak beach hours, and coordination with simultaneous local events such as a beach tennis tournament.

Mayor DeToy and council members said the approval was contingent on final, operational negotiations between staff and organizers and that staff would return with implementation details if any major change arises. The roll-call vote to include the event on the special events calendar passed 5-0.

Next steps: staff will continue negotiations with Nike on logistics and report operational details and any material changes to the council; race registration and community outreach milestones were outlined in Nike's presentation.