Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Mandan events center backed

Mandan events center backed

May 04, 2008 - 04:05:23 CDT

Mandan events

center backed

By JUSTIN BOHN

Bismarck

We moved our KTM motorcycle business to Mandan's Memorial Highway about a year ago and have been pleased thus far with the support and encouragement we've received from the community. The prospect of a new multiurpose events center in Mandan is really exciting to us, our employees, and our customers.

As we see it, the new facility would provide a unique new venue for dirt bike and ATV enthusiasts from a wide region. We actively promote a number of motorcycle events every year and support the North Dakota Motorcycle Association's motocross race series. Hundreds of rider participants from North Dakota and the surrounding states and provinces are drawn to these events. Large crowds of enthusiastic spectators are always on hand to enjoy the competition.

Unfortunately, when winter sets in, riding opportunities become limited in this area.

Other cities in the snowbelt have recognized the benefits of catering to dirt bike and ATV enthusiasts by holding indoor events like the Arenacross races held in Rapid City and Brookings, S.D., Fergus Falls, Minn., and Kallispell, Mont. These cities have capitalized on the popularity of these events by holding several races each year. There is no reason Mandan should not also benefit from similar events in a new, all-weather facility.

I hope the community, and motorcycle enthusiasts in particular, will see the tremendous potential a multipurpose events center will have for a variety of new events. Broad support will be needed to make it happen.

On Monday, the folks promoting the new events center will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. at the Mandan City Hall to lay out their feasibility study findings. This is an important meeting that will help get the wheels turning.

News > Opinion

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Comments

wheels wrote on May 6, 2008 4:06 PM:

" If you build it it USE PRIVATE FUNDS. We are taxed enough in Mandan for the little we get. Bring more businesses in...we have lost more businesses this past decade than we brought in. "

Online Editor wrote on May 5, 2008 2:54 PM:

" To haze: I don't doubt what you are saying is true, but it has nothing to do with the events center and it implies a crime was committed. The crime part being potentially libelous. "

Civic Center wrote on May 4, 2008 8:47 PM:

" None of the crappy acts the Civic Center brings in anymore fills 10 rows. Jeske hasn't delivered yet. Go ahead Mandan, build it, you can't draw any worse entertainment than Bismarck. "

Dumbfounded wrote on May 4, 2008 9:18 AM:

" Here we go again, a special interest group wants everyone else to pay for their fun.

If it is such a good idea, why do they not put it up? "

Dakota wrote on May 4, 2008 8:56 AM:

" Maybe Mandan can put a indoor lake in the events center. We have alot more boaters in this area!!!!! l.o.l. That way we can use our boats more than 3 months out of the year.
As for LARGE crowds watching existing the bike stunts, whats large (100 people) I have drove by and seen the people, hardly enough to fill 10 rows in the Civic center. "

Dakota wrote on May 4, 2008 8:50 AM:

" Where are all the people who complain about second hand smoke? Have you ever been to a monster truck show or similar events at the Civic Center. The fumes are unbearable. There are national standards for indoor air quality. I believe attending these events on a regualar base could lead to some health problems. "

Dakota wrote on May 4, 2008 8:42 AM:

" You can use the Civic center, We DON'T NEED and CANT AFFORD a events center in Mandan.
EVERYONE needs to show up for the meeting Monday nite and put an end to this stupid events center idea. "

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