Thunder in the Rockies could be on the move

Off the Wire News
Rally & Event News
By Shelley Widhalm
Loveland Reporter-Herald

Downtown Loveland residents and merchants are taking a shine to the idea of moving the annual Thunder in the Rockies motorcycle rally to the city’s core.
At least that is the initial response Kim Vecchio, executive director of Engaging Loveland Inc., said she has been getting.
Vecchio is meeting individually with residents and downtown business owners and soliciting e-mail responses through downtown-focused groups such as the Downtown Loveland Association and the Association of Downtown Merchants.
“It’s still in the research stages,” Vecchio said. “We still need input from merchants and residents.”
Bob Herrfeldt, director of The Ranch, and Todd Erdmann, owner of Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson in northeast Loveland, are helping Vecchio gather that input.
They are planning to hold an open house, along with Abby Powell, an event coordinator at The Ranch, within the next two weeks to generate more responses from downtown and the Loveland community, Vecchio said.
The Ranch approached Engaging Loveland last month about possibly relocating the four-day Labor Day rally from the events complex and Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson nearby, where it has been held for the past five years.
“Almost all rallies are held in a downtown setting to allow the participants to gather, go out for rides ... and hang out at their bikes,” said Vecchio, Herrfeldt and Erdmann in an e-mail they sent to downtown merchants and residents.
The rally attracts an average of 30,000 motorcycle enthusiasts and hard-core bikers for motorcycle-related competitions, events and vendor sales and an opportunity to show off and talk about their bikes.
“When you bring something that big downtown, residents need to know what’s happening. Some are saying they would put up with the noise and the crowds if it helps downtown,” Vecchio said. “The merchants said it would be good for (business), and they’re willing to try it as long as they have enough notice to plan.”
Bryan Jones, owner of Henry’s Pub and the Sports Station downtown, likes the idea of the rally being downtown.
“I think it will help out a lot, especially on Labor Day weekend, because there’s not a lot of people downtown on that weekend anyway,” Jones said.
The merchants and residents have raised some concerns, including how the noise from the motorcycles can be mitigated and the event laid out to handle 30,000 people.
The turnout is divided over the four days of the rally, or about 8,000 people each day, Vecchio said.
“It’s a lot more feasible than the initial shock of how we’re going to fit 30,000 people downtown,” Vecchio said.
Engaging Loveland, The Ranch and Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson are researching how the event could fit downtown and are considering setting it up in the area of Third to Fifth streets from Railroad to Jefferson avenues.
Original article...
http://www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?id=26994