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.