In 2012 The City Of Sturgis Doubled Rally Profits Over Last Year

City officials announced last week the final numbers regarding the 2012 rally. The city made $399,642 on the rally compared to $197,107 in 2011. So, if you are interested by the balance sheet of the city, below is a breakdown:

Costs: The city must pay for the use of the Sturgis name and gave $26,944 in licensing fees to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Inc., so that the city could solicit rally sponsorships. Employee related time (including temporary rally workers, overtime and added staff in the rally department) totaled $352,019. Payment to consulting firm Motoring USA for coordination of the rally,  lining up sponsors & vendors , publishing the official rally magazine which comes out months before the rally: $163,056 in commissions and fees, and $145,485 to publish the official guide. Rally related supplies: $70, 439. Special events: $28, 730 (for ex. stunt riders). Miscellaneous: $122,583. Garbage dump: $24,557.

Income: Vendor fees: $259,869 + 3,006 vendor fines. Sponsorship: $289,127 Property rentals: $289,604. Advertising revenue: $210,082. Sanitation fee paid by vendors in addition of license fee $185,116.Mayor’s Ride Sponsorship $30,620. Sales at Community Center: $22,917. Photo towers on Main Street: $17,775. Brick project sales  $30,620.

Charities: $13,472 went to the Sturgis Rally Charities Foundation, $13,000 to the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department, $4,000 to the Sturgis Police Reserves and $250 to the National Fallen Firefighters association for a total in giving of $30,722.

2012 attendance in Sturgis and around in the Black Hills is confirmed at + 7%  for the 10 days surrounding the official rally dates of August 6 -11.

11 Responses to “In 2012 The City Of Sturgis Doubled Rally Profits Over Last Year”


  1. 1 Brandon Oct 25th, 2012 at 9:27 am

    What? The city of Sturgis has to pay SMRI to use the Sturgis name? $27,000? WTF???

  2. 2 Rodent Oct 25th, 2012 at 12:17 pm

    Figures don’t lie, liars can figure!

  3. 3 Woody Oct 25th, 2012 at 3:30 pm

    “The city must pay for the use of the Sturgis name ” This is one messed-up country. Maybe the City should deny all permits and take next year off?

  4. 4 Lorenzo Cycles Oct 25th, 2012 at 4:21 pm

    Congrats to John Detrick.

  5. 5 burnout Oct 25th, 2012 at 6:03 pm

    Fifty percent of statistics can be changed one hundred percent of the time. peace

  6. 6 Sturgis Rider Oct 26th, 2012 at 12:48 pm

    Why does a civic entity (City of Sturgis) have to pay a private entity (Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Inc.) for use of its own marks? What a racket.

  7. 7 96TC Oct 27th, 2012 at 2:33 pm

    Agree with Woody. Maybe the city and surrounding area should charge SMRI such an outrageous amount for permits that they have to go somewhere else. The bikers will still come and will still have a good time.

  8. 8 Blackmax Oct 28th, 2012 at 3:17 pm

    I along with everyone’s comments prior,
    You’ve f#^ing Got to be Kidding Me !!!!
    The City of Sturgis has to pay for using it’s own name ?????
    What the heck has this world gotten to??
    Woody is right, how messed up is that ??
    the people who live there must have turned into sheep to let this go on…..

  9. 9 Bean're Oct 29th, 2012 at 11:34 am

    How much did the police raise in tickets and fines?

  10. 10 Dritan Nov 1st, 2012 at 9:39 am

    Yes I been to Sturgis twice now and never been in the Buffalo Chip. You either have to be cpanimg there or pay to see a concert is only way you can go there. If you wanted to go to the bike show there I don’t believe you get in free or at a reasonable price. I’m not that big into concerts is why I haven’t stayed at Buffalo Chip. I did like Gallagher and Eddie Money but the price was more reasonable at the Broken Spoke Campground if you are on a budget or not into all the expensive concerts and cpanimg.

  11. 11 Roadkill Nov 1st, 2012 at 7:11 pm

    Hundreds of thousands of dollars were collect by SMRI on Sturgis licencing fees. They have kept it all! Not one penny back to the city of Sturgis! Time to get rid of these SMRI crooks and take the rally back.

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Cyril Huze