Salt Lake Marathon has new owner, but 2012 race still in question

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake Marathon has a new owner.

And while the man who started the event says that ensures this year's race will not only be held on April 21 but will be better than ever, city officials are still skeptical.

"Following nine years of building the Salt Lake City Marathon, ownership is being transferred to U.S. Road Sports," according to Chris Devine, who said he was getting out of the road race business in order to pursue opportunities in radio. "This year's marathon will be managed by USRS's highly qualified and capable staff."

Despite being plagued by financial difficulties that include vendors not being paid or being paid long after the event, the Salt Lake Marathon, half marathon and family 5K remained immensely popular. In 2011 more than 10,000 people participated in the running events and the associated bike tour.

Devine said he didn't want to sell the race in December after race director Scott Kerr resigned. But he said after looking at all the options, selling the event to USRS (who also own the Miami Marathon, among others) felt like the best move for the future of the race.

"I'm comforted to know that it's in good hands," said Devine. "I'm a little disappointed frankly in some of the speculation that the race won't happen. The new owners fully intend to meet all deadlines and hold the race."

City officials contacted Friday morning said the deadline for completing all necessary paperwork is Feb. 15.

"We are fast approaching the date after which the protected date will no longer be tenable," said Art Raymond, spokesman for Mayor Ralph Becker. "The simple reality is that is the amount of time it takes all of the city entities that need to prepare for the event. We have heard rumors (of new ownership), but we have not issued a permit, nor processed an application from a new sponsor group."

Devine said the necessary application fees have been paid. He added that new owners planned to be in Salt Lake City Tuesday of next week and meet with city officials on Wednesday. One of the issues is where the race should finish, Devine said.

Raymond said the city had only "intermittent and sporadic" contact with Devine Racing and was concerned that officials were "yet to hear a name of a local race director."

He said that if the deadline passes without the race owners meeting the requirements of the city, then there likely would be no race in Salt Lake City held on that date.