How the 84th Sturgis rally measures up to previous years

STURGIS, S.D. (KELO) — With the 2024 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally coming to a close, we took a look at some of the statistics from this years rally compared to previous years.

The DPS releases a Sturgis Rally Tally – a 24-hour (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.) recap for crashes, DUI arrests, drug arrests, citations and warnings for both Sturgis and the Rapid City district.

Deb Holland, Director of Communications and Outreach for Sturgis said that the number of visitors for the rally isn’t finalized yet.

“I don’t have the numbers yet but compared to last year I believe we are pretty close but the last 5 year average I believe showed we were down 5%,” Deb Holland told KELOLAND News.

Note: Rally Tally numbers from DPS do not include data from the Rally’s official opening day Friday, Aug. 2.

The rally this year also saw a slight decrease in citations and accidents.

Holland said just because the rally has fewer people doesn’t mean it has less crime.

“One of the things law enforcement says is when their are fewer people here, it’s easier for them to get around and give people tickets or make arrests because in years like the 75th with the gridlock our crime numbers may have been down but it’s only because law enforcement can’t get to those people,” said Holland.

The SD DOT has not yet put out their rally population totals.

Holland said that weather can affect their garbage numbers when it comes to rally count.

“Wet garbage is heavier than dry garbage and that’s how we determine how many people are there by comparing garbage numbers to the previous year,” said Holland.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SD DOT) counts traffic based on a number of factors including sensors that count vehicles, the number of vendor licenses issued, amount of garbage hauled in Sturgis, Mount Rushmore traffic counts and the South Dakota Department of Revenues sales tax calculation.

With next year’s rally being an anniversary year for the event, Holland is expecting a big increase in rallygoers compared to regular years.

“I hear from a lot of people who come to the rally, and a lot of them said this year I couldn’t afford it so I’m going next year so I think that’s kind of been the prevailing attitude I’ve seen where if I have to choose I’m going to come on the 85th,” said Holland.

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