UTA will not appear at Pride, other festivals this year

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to specify the types of agreements the UTA has paused.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority will not appear at this year’s Pride parade or any other parades or festivals while officials review their fare agreements. 

This is the first time since 2022 that UTA will not appear in the Utah Pride parade.  

In addition to the pause on event attendance, the UTA will also review its Ticket as Fare agreements, causing a pause in that service. UTA spokesperson Gavin Gustafson said that the pause specifically affects UTA’s in-kind Ticket as Fare agreements.

“In-kind is a form of payment for goods and services as opposed to money,” Gustafson said.

The UTA offered the Utah Pride Festival and other organizations with in-kind agreements the option to switch to a paid agreement for its Ticket As Fare program, but they declined.

KSL has reached out to the Utah Pride Festival and has not heard back.

According to Gustafson, the hold is to make sure the UTA is appropriately spending public funds.

Ticket as Fare still available for some events

The UTA will still run its Ticket As Fare program for University of Utah sporting events, the Ogden and Salt Lake Twilight Concert Series, the Bells Concert and the Western Stampede.

Gustafson said the organizations that declined paid agreements may still change their mind. Any updates would be reflected on the Ticket As Fare website.

There isn’t a date set for when the pause on event attendance will end, but Gustafson said UTA is still committed to being a positive presence in the community.

Related: GOP lawmaker threatens ‘significant legislation’ after Mammoth, Jazz celebrate Pride month