Boulder City may welcome bikers for fall event

Jace Radke

Wednesday, March 29, 2000 | 11:21 a.m.

As many as 50,000 leather-clad motorcycle riders looking for a party may find their way to Boulder City this fall.

At least that's the hope of BGT Productions, a Las Vegas-based event management group looking to put on a four-day motorcycle festival on 50 acres of the Eldorado dry lake south of Boulder City.

The group made its pitch to the City Council on Tuesday and came away with a pledge to look into the proposed event.

"When I first saw this I was concerned, but now I think we would be working with professionals," Councilman Bryan Nix said. "I don't have a problem with exploring this, and it may be a chance for us to enhance our charity revenues or even help fund some city projects."

BGT and its partner, the Sports Group, a Mesa, Ariz., marketing company, are targeting Oct. 12-15 for the event that they hope will draw 50,000 motorcycle enthusiasts.

"The demographics we are aiming for are the weekend warriors, who are doctors and lawyers, and like to put on their leathers and go for a ride on the weekend," Kerry Dunne, president of the Sports Group, said. "We put on the Phoenix Open for the PGA, and I look at this the same way.

"There will be a major trade show and places for the dealers to show off their latest creations in the world of motorcycles."

Dunne told the council that that national sponsors have signed on and that parts of the event will be televised nationally.

BGT director Paul Barrow said he envisions the event bringing in Hollywood stars and celebrities.

"David Cassidy is a part of our group, and you'll see stars with a passion for motorcycles at the event," Barrow said.

The four-day festival would also include a concert with proceeds going to Bike-Aid, a charitable organization that uses cross-country motorcycle rides to raise money for grass-roots environmental programs and education.

The council asked that the promoters meet with the city staff and local emergency services to determine the logistics for the event.

Boulder City Police Chief David Mullin said that staffing the event with officers would be difficult.

"The date they are proposing is the weekend after our Art in the Park event, so we'll be stretched pretty thin," Mullin said. "It can be done, but it is going to cost them some money to bring in some outside help."

Art in the Park usually draws about 100,000 people into downtown Boulder City, but the motorcycle festival will not directly bring anyone into Boulder City unless it is designed to do so, Dunne said.

"If you want people funneled into the restaurants and hotels we can do that, or we can minimize the impact."

The council told the promoters that before anything could move forward possible problems with dust control and traffic would have to be worked out.

Jace Radke is a reporter for the Las Vegas Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-2318 or by e-mail at jace@lasvegassun.com