Leuven’s New Year’s Eve Corrida Sells Out in Hours
Tickets for Leuven’s New Year’s Eve Corrida sold out within hours, with all 2,750 spots on the 12 km course filled shortly after registration opened. Organiser Johan De Haes emphasized both the swift selling of tickets and the event’s focus on safety, reports 24brussels.
As VRT News reported, the demand for this year’s Corrida has surpassed previous records, with registration for the 12-kilometre race seeing all available spots claimed in mere hours. This unprecedented interest has surprised event organizers.
“Last year, registrations were already faster than in previous years. Selling out the full 12-kilometre course in less than 24 hours is unprecedented,” De Haes noted.
“Sending too many runners into Leuven city centre is not a good thing,” he emphasized.
This year, the organisers have decided against allowing additional runners to maintain a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for participants. According to them, the decision is crucial for the event’s success.
“We want the Corrida to stay fun for all participants,” the organisers stated.
They further elaborated that additional runners would lead to overcrowding in certain areas of the course, complicating the event’s dynamics. “Adding too many runners in the city centre could create problems. Some parts of the course are narrow and could become crowded. We want everyone to keep running smoothly. This is a running event, not a walking event,” they concluded.
De Haes also mentioned that the growing interest in the event is partly attributable to major competitions, including the European Running Championships recently held in Leuven. “The city is not too small for the Corrida,” he asserted.
“We will work with the city and police in the coming years to explore new options. Our goal is to allow everyone who wants to join a chance to participate while keeping the race safe and enjoyable for all,” De Haes explained.
The New Year’s Eve Corrida in Leuven began in 2005 as a modest local event, with only a few dozen participants. Over the years, it has grown significantly, reaching hundreds by 2015. The event gained international recognition in 2022 when it hosted the European Running Championships. Each year, the Corrida is scheduled for December 31, with organisers collaborating closely with local authorities to prioritize safety on Leuven’s narrow streets.
