Motorcycles and Money: A Benefit and Cost Study of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota

Author

Joshua M. Tetzlaff, Clemson University

Date of Award

5-2014

Document Type

Terminal Project

Degree Name

Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP)

Department

The College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities

Advisor

Cliff Ellis

Committee Member

Barry Nocks

Committee Member

Timothy Green

Abstract

In the first week of every August, over 400,000 people descend on the city of Sturgis, ND, for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This large influx of people results in hundreds of millions of dollars in spending during the event, yet Sturgis itself only sees about $18 million of the total spending, or just under $1,800 per person. For any place in America, 400,000+ people over the course of a week can be difficult to handle but for a small, western South Dakota town, the number of people is overwhelming. This disparity in size between the event and the size of the town is the main reason why Sturgis sees such a small portion of the money spent during the rally.

Recommended Citation

Tetzlaff, Joshua M., "Motorcycles and Money: A Benefit and Cost Study of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota" (2014). Master of City and Regional Planning Terminal Projects. 9.
https://open.clemson.edu/mcrp/9