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2023 Sturgis Rally data points to average attendance

Several parked motorcycles during a past Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
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Several parked motorcycles during a past Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Paired with the introduction of a new visitor reporting method, sales tax receipts from the month of August report a decidedly average Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this year.

Those receipts totaled at $7.8 million for August 2023. Last year totaled $7.6 million.

Roughly 617,000 were tallied using a new tracking method – data collected via cell phone pings. It’s a minor increase over 2022 but over 75,000 fewer visitors than 2021.

Previously physical Department of Transportation vehicle counters were used to track attendance. That method came up with just 458,000 vehicles for the rally this year.

C.J. Keene is a Rapid City-based journalist covering the legal system, education, and culture