SPRINGDALE -- New events are planned for Bikes Blues & BBQ this year at a new venue: Arvest Ballpark.
The ballpark will bring more money to Springdale and could help with development in the western part of the city, according to officials. Officials and community members gathered Monday in the Sam's Club Community Room at Arvest Ballpark to hear about changes to the rally.
Event Information
Bikes Blues & BBQ
• Sept. 24-27
• Dickson Street: 3-11 p.m. Sept. 24; noon-11:30 p.m. Sept. 25; 10 a.m.-midnight, Sept. 26; and 8 a.m.-12:30 a.m. Sept. 26-27.
• Baum Motorcycle Village: 12-7 :30 p.m. Sept. 24; and 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Sept. 25-27.
• Washington County Fairgrounds Saloon and Campgrounds: 5 p.m.-midnight, Sept. 24; 3 p.m.-midnight Sept. 25; 12 p.m. until it’s over Sept. 26; and 9 p.m. until it’s over Sept. 27.
Source: bikesbluesandbbq.org
The new venue is needed because Dickson Street in Fayetteville was becoming crowded, said Joe Giles, executive director of the rally. It's difficult to find parking in the area during the rally, and the large amount of parking space available at Arvest Ballpark will help.
Sal Diaz, a Little Rock resident and member of the Central Arkansas Chapter of the Harley Owners Group, said he will attend the rally this year and has done so since 2005. He said Dickson Street gets crowded because most people want to park their motorcycles there to watch the parade.
"It gets so crowded you can't really move," he said.
The events at Arvest will take place the evening of Sept. 26 and all day Sept. 27, Giles said. There will be four new events: a vintage motorcycle show; the Northwest Arkansas Steak Cooking Championship; an area for Soldier's Wish, which is similar to the Make a Wish Foundation but for veterans; and activities sponsored by Ride of the Brotherhood, an organization for veterans.
The annual karaoke contest, which was held at the Washington County fairgrounds, will be moved to Arvest, Giles said. A tattoo expo will be at the fairgrounds this year. The vintage car show, which was held at Northwest Arkansas Mall, also will be moved to Arvest.
A message left for Jeff Bishop, senior general manager of the mall, was not returned by 3 p.m. Monday.
Diaz said he would probably only spend about an hour at Arvest. He said he would like to see the vintage motorcycles.
Using Arvest as a venue has been discussed the past two to three years, said Bill Rogers, vice president of communications and special projects for the Springdale Chamber of Commerce. Like most events, the rally will bring more money to Springdale from tourism.
It also will draw visitors to the western part of the city, Rogers said. Some attendees might be business owners who learn about the area while attending the rally. It could result in more development in the area.
The biggest challenge will be getting longtime attendees of the rally used to the new venue, Giles said. The solution comes down to advertising.
Giles said the rally grows every year, and he wants it to keep growing.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg," he said.
Officials are starting small this year and only using the south part of the parking lot, said Justin Cole, general manager of Arvest Ballpark. Plans call for expansion to inside the ballpark.
NW News on 07/22/2014