The 75th Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally(TM) is in the books and was the largest to date, featuring well over a half a million riders of all stripes, who descended on the Black Hills region to help celebrate the world’s most iconic motorcycle gathering. With records set in both attendance and merchandise sales, Sturgis® 75 was an unmitigated success. But as stewards of the Sturgis® brand, the volunteer board of SMRi feel a strong responsibility to help promote, grow and strengthen the Sturgis® brand overall, which is why they used the 75th Anniversary as an opportunity to unveil the official Sturgis® branded logo for next year’s 76th.
“This year’s 75th Anniversary Sturgis® Rally was truly something special,” said Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen. “But it’s just one rally–we’re about the Sturgis® institution, the totality, and that’s why we felt it important to unveil the 76th logo with as much fanfare and enthusiasm as we did for the 75th.”
The unveiling of the logo marked the beginning of the Sturgis® preparation cycle, which continues throughout the year until next August. With legendary roots in the Black Hills, the Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally(TM) is the worlds largest, and the SMRi board members feel an acute responsibility to the people of Sturgis and the surrounding area.
“SMRi was established to spur economic development in the Black Hills region and to bring money back to the community through charitable contributions derived from sales of official licensed merchandise,” said SMRi Board Chairman Dean Kinney. “SMRi will continue to develop the Sturgis® brand and advocate on its behalf so the Sturgis community can continue to thrive and enjoy a tangible return from the world’s largest motorcycling event. That’s why we got to work right away on the 76th logo, and that’s why we’ll work harder than ever to make the 76th Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally(TM) the best one yet.”
About SMRi
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Inc. (SMRi) is a South Dakota not-for-profit organization with no owners or shareholders and a volunteer board. The group’s primary responsibility is to promote, grow and strengthen the Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally(TM) and provide a charitable return for the greater Sturgis area through the development of a licensing program related to the Sturgis® Motorcycle Rally(TM). The board positions represent a variety of organizations and interests in the Sturgis area, including the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce, City of Sturgis, Sturgis-area commercial property owners, and rally- and non-rally-oriented businesses.