"Running with the Bulls" coming to Salt Lake City

(by Josh Furlong ksl.com 8-26-13)

Utahns may soon get a chance to run away from raging bulls in what some consider a sport.

Running With the Bulls USA announced last weekend that they are adding Salt Lake City to their 2014 calendar. Participants will have the opportunity to win over $10,000, while hoping to stave off being gored by a rushing bull.  "The Running With the Bulls Festivals have been wildly successful over the years," said Phil Immordino, the event organizer, in a prepared statement. "And this year it's going to be about big bulls, big bucks, and big fun."  The exact details about Utah's festival are unknown at this time. However, Deputy Director of Communications for Salt Lake City, Art Raymond, said the festival organizers have not contacted the city about the festival or the feasibility about such an event. Raymond said no permits have been issued, nor have the event organizers begun the permit process.

The Running With the Bulls Festivals will be held in Cave Creek, Arizona in October, in Las Vegas in April and in the Phoenix area in October 2014. Immordino said event organizers are expecting about 15,000 people to participate in the Cave Creek festival.

The success of the past events prompted Running With the Bulls USA to open up Salt Lake City as an additional location for potential participants.

"We have had hundreds of past runners and sponsors asking us to expand our event calendar, so we are excited about adding Salt Lake City, and continuing our role as pioneers in these exciting Running With the Bulls events," Immordino said.  Each festival features a weekend-long event, with six races on Saturday and six races on Sunday. In addition to the Running With the Bulls, the festival will include the "Great Bull Battle of the Bands," food, drinks, entertainment and rides.  More details about Utah's event will be released at a later date. Tickets for all festivals are sold on the Running With the Bulls USA website.

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=26594721&nid=148

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Sadly, this event never took place.

I kept my eye on it on their website, and they even had a location for it scheduled in Heber around the 24th of July, Utah's "Pioneer Days".

But eventually all the bull runs this group were scheduling were eventually canceled due to the animal rights activists and the lawsuits they were threatening. The organizers decided it just wasn't worth the hassle.