Sturgis, SD - Sturgis South rally moved to October

OFF THE WIRE
Tim Pratt
 cdispatch.com

For the last few years, crowds at the Sturgis South Motorcycle Rally in southwestern Oktibbeha County have decreased steadily.
Many people have complained about the timing of the event, as temperatures in mid August often soar into triple digits. During an especially hot rally in 2010, registration was down 20-25 percent compared to 2009, Sturgis South Rally Board President Donny Hanson said.
For the 2011 version, Sturgis South organizers have moved the rally from August to October in an attempt to avoid the summer heat and draw bikers back to Sturgis. The event will take place Friday, Oct. 7 through Sunday, Oct. 9.
"We've had so many people complain about the heat and it appears to have affected our attendance," Hanson said. "We just can't keep operating on such tight finances with attendance going down like it has, so we decided to bite the bullet and try to appease the fans that didn't come because of the heat and move it to October."
While the rally has a "nest egg" saved up from profitable years, the event lost money in 2010, Hanson said. He would not disclose how much money the rally lost.
"If we have another year this year like we had last year, the rally will be over," Hanson said.
Rally organizers have not yet determined what bands will play at the event this year. The Rally Board also has yet to decide whether or not to include a Thursday night concert as part of this year's events.
"That just depends on if we can work out a deal with our stage crew and bands to play," Hanson said.
Organizers chose Oct. 7-9 to hold the event because Mississippi State University's football team isn't playing that weekend in Starkville. The Bulldogs are tentatively scheduled to play at the University of Alabama-Birmingham on Oct. 8.