The final totals are in for the 2010 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Even in this time of economic uncertainty, and one of the biggest slumps in the motorcycle industry, bikers, motorcycle enthusiasts, and riders of all types still made the trip to Sturgis for Bike Week. Many went to Sturgis this year for the first time, however the majority - 75% - were returning rally goers, with 40% having been there 6 or more times. Apparently it takes a lot more than a economic down-turn to keep the true Sturgis Rally goers away.
Here is a recap of the numbers provided by the City of Sturgis, SD...
2010 Sturgis Rally Attendance: 466,769 (+5.6%) (Highest ever was 600,000 in 2000)
Vendor Licenses Issued: 761 (+9.3%)
DOT Traffic Count for the Official Bike Week: 459,968 (16.7%)
Mt. Rushmore Traffic Count (in Park): 67,130 (-14.5%)
Temporary Vendor Sales: $11,400,000 (+12.7%)
Tons of Trash Hauled: 583 (+3.2)
Stats from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Survey...
69% of the Sturgis Rally goes are ages 41 to 65
75% have been to the Sturgis Rally at least once before, 40% more than 5 times
65% plan their trip at least 6 months in advance, with 39% planning their trip at least 12 months in advance
The average lenght of stay for a Sturgis Rally goer is 7 days
The average spending is $250 per day per person
The above stats were provided by the City of Sturgis, South Dakota.
Sturgis Rally Vendor Tax Revenues
Better attendance, larger bike counts, and more vendors contributed to an increase in tax revenues collected so far from the 2010 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, compared to last year at this time.
The South Dakota Department of Revenue and Regulation reports that sales and tourism tax revenues collected from temporary vendors at this year's rally totaled $989,911 in the Northern Hills, which includes Sturgis and all other communities in Meade and Lawrence counties. Those revenues were up $127,804 from last year's total of $862,107. Tax revenues from this year's rally will continue to be collected over the next few weeks, even though the last official day was Aug. 16. Of the $989,911 collected so far this year, $545,824 was state sales tax, $232,328 was municipal sales tax, $8,196 was municipal gross receipts tax, and $203,563 was state tourism tax revenue. There were 1,207 vendors displaying and selling products at the 2010 rally, compared to 1,149 in 2009 and 1,191 in 2008. Gross vendor sales totaled $13,647,413 this year in the Northern Hills area - an increase of $1,728,798 from last year's gross sales of $11,918,615. The Southern Hills - including Rapid City, Custer, Hill City, and Keystone, along with Pennington County - posted vendor sales tax revenues of $207,433. Of that amount, $110,492 was state sales tax, $53,622 was municipal sales tax, $1,883 was municipal gross receipts tax, and $41,435 was state tourism tax. Those revenues were up $18,013 from the $189,420 reported in 2009. Gross vendor sales from the 2010 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally totaled $2,762,306 in the Southern Hills - an increase of $230,517 from 2009 gross sales of $2,531,789. Tax rates for the biker rally varied, depending on the types of merchandise sold and the locations of the concessions.
Tax revenue information provided by:
SD Department of Revenue and Regulation
Phone: (605) 773-3311
445 E. Capitol Avenue
FAX:(605) 773-5129
Pierre, SD 57501-3185