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Officials to make final decision in June if Sturgis Motorcycle Rally occurring this year

City council members to announce decision June 15
Officials to make final decision in June if Sturgis Motorcycle Rally occurring this year
Posted at 3:01 PM, May 15, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-15 15:01:07-04

The fate of the 80th anniversary of the famed Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is up in the air.

Officials with the City of Sturgis said city council members would decide in June if the famed Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will take place this year.

In a news release posted on the city's website , officials said plans for the 80th anniversary of the rally are still moving forward, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, hosting the event is still up in the air.

Officials said members of the city council will host a special meeting on June 8 and will render a final decision on June 15.

Officials posted on the City of Sturgis Facebook page that if the event is canceled, the city anticipates losing $1.7 million.

Last year, the rally generated $655,090,000 in direct spending by visitors, officials said.

To make up for their losses, officials said in a Facebook post that they would need to implement furloughing staff, increasing property taxes by 5%, and canceling community events.

If the event isn't canceled, it is scheduled to take place August 7-16.