One of the five largest motorcycle rallies in the country is getting even bigger.
Bikes, Blues & BBQ officials last week announced that the annual rally is expanding into Springdale in 2011 with a two-day AMXA Arenacross exhibition and competition. The Bikes, Blues and BBQ Arenacross/Big Air Extravaganza will take place at Parsons Arena Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, the last two days of this year’s rally.
In years past, Dickson Street in Fayetteville served as the center of activity with additional events at Baum Stadium, Tyson Track Center and the Washington County Fairgrounds. Adding a companion event in Springdale has been in the works for some time, said Joe Giles, new executive director of Bikes, Blues & BBQ.
“We think it’s a wonderful and natural expansion to what BBB currently has to offer,” said Giles, adding that he expects the competition to draw a younger crowd, widening the demographic of the average rally attendee.
“Cowboy” Kenny Bartram
Photo: Chris Marks
“Cowboy” Kenny Bartram, a professional freestyle motocrosser and rally car driver, will perform both days. The Stillwater, Okla., native is one of the winningest motorcross and freestyle motocross riders in the country. He’s been interviewed on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and 60 Minutes and was once the guest star of CMT’s Greatest Outlaws.
The Arenacross event will also feature professional motocross riders vying for $10,000 in prize money, as well as amateurs in varying age ranges and skill levels, beginning at age 4.
This new portion of the rally is organized under the supervision of Michael Donelson of Van Buren, whose family has owned the Ascot Park MX facility in Fort Smith since 1996. He said he expects the event to draw some 300 riders and 10,000 spectators over the two days of riding.
According to a news release, the fall festival draws an estimated 400,000 people during rally week with an economic impact of $35 million to $50 million in Northwest Arkansas.
“We are thrilled to be working with the leadership of BBB to expand this great event into Springdale,” said Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse. “My staff and the Chamber of Commerce are working hand-in-hand with the event organizers to do all we can to make this year’s Arenacross an overwhelming success. This expansion will help BBB as well as help our economy. We expect great things from this partnership in the years to come.”
The 2011 Bikes, Blues & BBQ motorcycle rally begins Wednesday Sept. 28 and runs through Saturday, Oct. 1.
Move the whole thing. Emma Ave needs the business.
This is total b.s. This rally attracts around 125,000 people.
They keep putting out false figures even after they have been shot down. ADG did a story a few years ago and showed how the bogus figures were arrived at. Then based on the trash, there’s really only 100,000 people at the rally.
Weight of trash sets rally fans at 100,000
Every year’s estimates based on guesses
By Bill Bowden
Posted on October 4, 2009 at 5:07 a.m.
http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2009/oct/04/weight-trash-sets-rally-fans/ (old link)
I don’t know why some in the media keeps pushing bogus figures. That needs to stop! If BB&B was a top rally, there would be top entertainment here. But we don’t get that. We get Rick Derringer or some other act at the AMP. Look what real rallies of 400,000 get a daily dose of acts like AC/DC, KISS and others.
Also, the hotel rooms in this area are packed when theres a Razorback home game (76,000 people) and that’s when alot come from this area and aren’t staying in a hotel. Where would 400,000 people stay?!
BB&B is a small rally that doesn’t raise much at all for charity.
Arenacross event sounds fairly cool, but, the “400,000 people” figure comes across as a wild exaggeration (based on observation attending every BB&BBQ to date and living in central Fayetteville). This number should be investigated and refuted by the media if it is unsubstantiated.
The number is probably false, but the “hotel rooms” thing doesn’t fly. How many hotel rooms are there in Sturgis?
Bout time Springdale has a fun family event. Why can’t they do an event at Arvest ballpark? Please do something Springdale! Anything!!!
400,000?
HAHAHAH…..
Seriously? Imagine doubling the population of NWA. All those homes, apartments, condos…..now multiply them times two. And apparently, you get the number of people attending this rally….. I believe this puts it on par with the olympics; actually, proportional to NWA’s size, much, much better than the olympics. I really doubt Beijing’s population doubled.
It seems like the community would love to hear Mr. Giles explain how these BBB visitor numbers could be so high.
As Josh wrote, that number has been totally debunked. It’s irresponsible to continue to report it, even when you do so saying “according to.” Lazy.
It sounds like you all have been waiting a long time for a BBB article to be posted so you could complain about the “estimated” attendance. It would be nice if the numbers were more accurate, but that’s not something to which I can speak. However, I can say that Arenacross is pretty entertaining and I hope it sells out. This will be a great show and I’m glad to see BBB expanding. Hopefully “big acts” do go hand-in-hand with BBB in the future so you all can quit complaining.
Brian, there are some people in the world who consider “facts” as useful, not as complaining. And some people watch Fox News.
Yes, let’s expand this horrible festival until it takes over another Arkansas town or even all of Arkansas! Hooray. Whatever the bogus numbers are, I’m tired of businesses bending over backward to make special amendments for the bikers, including my favorite bar allowing smoking inside just for them. Yes, the 100,000 odd bikers that come into the area may bring more revenue for some businesses, but many businesses close during this time too, or their customers don’t venture out to shop there because they don’t want to deal with the biker traffic and INCREDIBLE NOISE. Boo for expansion. Boo.
I Agree…some facts are useful. I’ll go to the web for a definition of complaining: “1.Express dissatisfaction or annoyance about a state of affairs or an event”
I just think that BBB should be embraced. The economic impact cannot be denied. If thousands of people come to NWA for a few days every Fall and enjoy themselves, it’s likely they will come back during other times of the year and continue plugging dollars into our community.
I’m curious if any local business owners really suffer as a result of BBB. Anyone? Facts?
Allegiant benefited last year, when me and Mrs. Observer fled to California for the entire event. I estimate about $3,000 was spent elsewhere because this event essentially ruins the Shire for a week.
I agree with Innarested Observer. I get out of town if possible, gladly, and yes, that would entail spending money elsewhere. One of the places I work shuts down for the entire event. I can’t speak for all businesses, but it seems anything that’s not attractive to bikers suffers because their regular customers might not shop there.
Personally I much prefer the influx of bikers than I do the influx of Walmart shareholders/vendors/etc that comes with the annual meeting.
Good point. Maybe I just hate anything that makes me feel like the town is being invaded.
First they take our seats at our favorite bars and restaurants, then they take our jobs.
Seems like it would be sweet justice for them to have to work during their own festival. Bring it on.
Meh, the Wal-Mart thing is a piece of cake compared to BBBBBBQ. I already avoid Wal-Mart, and sometimes there are some interesting people on Dickson from overseas as a result of the WMSM. If you stay at home, you don’t notice its even going on. The same can’t be said of BBBBBBQ. It ruins our peace and quiet for a week or more. It can’t be avoided.
I am sorry that so many of Fayetteville’s citizens are upset about BBB. I live in the River Valley and really enjoy coming to your area and the BBB festivities. I realize that some of the bikes are loud and that diamond stores don’t have much for sales during the event, but I eat out a local places on Dickson when I am there and buy gas and snacks at convenience stores etc. Granted, I don’t spend too much shopping cause I can do that any day with a short jaunt up 540. Maybe Van Buren or Fort Smith should see if we can take that even off your hands. I am sure that some in those areas would complain too, but VB has old timers day and a little bike show so maybe if FS and VB got together I wouldn’t have to pay for camping or hotel space in your area to be able to attend a nice event.
Why are you all complaining? What else is ther in mid america? At least it is a place to go to hear good BLUES (not KISS and ACDC) eat good food and party, party, party!!!
Whoa there, buddy! There’s only room for one George on this website and he would never use the word “party” three times in the same sentence.
I fully support moving BBBBBQ to Fort Smith. Such a great fit. Please take it off our hands.
i second that proposal. good riddance bbbbbbbq.
I’ll bet Coke is a pretty average BBBQ goer. Eats, drinks (alot) and.. doesn’t shop. So we see again just who benefits from this bummer event. Unless the handle “Coke” is a hint as to other recreational preferences.
in this economy we should all just be happy people are spending money at all.. you guys are all a bunch of grumps.. it’s a few day event quit the complaining and look at the positives. If you don’t like it, think of it as a great excuse for a vacation.. sheeeeesh!!!