With apologies to Steppenwolf:
"I like smoke and lightnin'
Heavy metal thunder
Racing with the wind
And the feeling that I'm under
Yeah, darlin' gonna make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once and
Explode into ... Rogers?"
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That's where Bikes, Blues & BBQ, the massive annual fall motorcycle rally that's been based in Fayetteville the last 20 years, is headed -- to Rogers. For at least 2022. Maybe (depends on covid-19, as does everything these days).
The news of the move broke late Thursday. With construction of a new parking deck at Dickson Street and West Avenue along with the pending work on the new arts corridor, having the rally in downtown Fayetteville may run into, well, a few roadblocks.
Rogers, meanwhile, has recently finished upgrades of public spaces in its downtown, including a plaza and an outdoor stage, which seem likely locations for many of the music shows, vendors and other events that have been associated with the rally for years.
Fayetteville cheerleader and Chamber of Commerce president Steve Clark said the rally has become more regional in nature and it's no real loss to Fayetteville businesses that benefit from the estimated 300,000 attendees. Dickson Street's bars and restaurants, he says, will do fine.
Of course, he's paid to say that. But he's probably right. There have been Bikes, Blues & BBQ events scattered across the region for a while now -- well, at least the years prior to 2019, the last year the rally actually took place. Both Springdale and Rogers have hosted associated events, and no one within 50 miles doesn't hear that heavy metal thunder for several days as riders try out the beautiful, curvy highways through the Ozark hills.
Rogers Mayor Greg Hines says the city stands ready to partner with the Bikes, Blues & BBQ organization to make it a success. He's paid to say that, as well. But, if the bikers are coming anyway, might as well make them feel at home and help them spend their money in your town, right?
We don't really know what kind of activities will be happening for the 2022 rally, or for that matter, where any of it will take place. We'll have to wait for that information. It's fair to assume, too, that there will be some folks in Rogers (just like there have been some in Fayetteville) who won't take this news with a love embrace. They won't look forward to all that smoke and lightnin' over five days in the fall. Mayor Hines will surely hear from them (if he hasn't already). Meanwhile, a few folks in Fayetteville may be celebrating a bit.
Things will be different in Rogers next Oct. 5-8, if the rally actually comes off. The last two years, covid caused it to be scrubbed -- in 2021, the cancellation came just a few weeks out.
So nothing is really set in stone. But it could be a wild ride.
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NoneWHAT’S THE POINT: With the news that an annual motorcycle rally will be based in Rogers instead of Fayetteville, folks in both towns ponder what direction they’re going.