Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Tickets for Leuven’s New Year’s Eve Corrida sold out in hours. All 2,750 spots on the 12 km course were filled. Organiser Johan De Haes highlighted safety and growing interest.
As VRT News reported, tickets for the New Year’s Eve Corrida in Leuven have sold out faster than ever before. This year, 2,750 places were available for runners on the 12-kilometre course. Registration opened recently, and all spots were taken within hours.
Organiser Johan De Haes said the fast response was surprising.
“Last year, registrations were already faster than in previous years. Selling out the full 12-kilometre course in less than 24 hours is unprecedented,”
he said.
“Sending too many runners into Leuven city centre is not a good thing.”
Johan De Haes
When did Leuven’s New Year’s Corrida 12K sell out?
The organisers of Leuven’s New Year’s Eve Corrida have announced that they will not allow any additional runners this year. They say the decision is meant to keep the event safe and enjoyable for everyone taking part.
“We want the Corrida to stay fun for all participants,”
the organisers said.
“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.”
De Haes, one of the organisers, explained that the growing attention is partly due to big competitions, including the European Running Championships recently held in Leuven.
“The city is not too small for the Corrida,”
De Haes said.
“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.”
The New Year’s Eve Corrida in Leuven started in 2005 as a small local running event, attracting just a few dozen participants. Over the years, it has grown steadily, reaching hundreds of runners by 2015.
In 2022, Leuven gained international attention when it hosted the European Running Championships. Each year, the Corrida takes place on December 31, with organisers working closely with the city and local police to ensure safety on the narrow streets of the city centre.
