Proposed Change to Rally Fee

[royce]

Now that the 2014 Rally is over, I just sent the following email to our Board of Directors:

"I believe the MOA should change the fee structure for its annual rally, and offer a day-pass for a single day visit. Here is why I support a fee change:

I bought my BMW motorcycle and immediately joined MOA in August 2012. I have attended two MOA rallies (Sedalia in July 2012, and Salem in July 2013) and enjoyed them, but decided at the conclusion of the Salem rally that I will not likely attend another three-day rally. I do not camp and therefore do not participate in one of the ?benefits? that seems so enjoyable to a large number of regular rally attendees. Mostly, I go to a rally to look at motorcycles (old and new) and visit all the vendors?and I bought several items of gear at each of the two MOA rallies I attended plus the multiple motel nights and all the meals I consumed while there. But, three days is too long for me to be entertained at a rally, and the full entrance fee is too much for a single day admission. What I would like is to be able to ride to a great motorcycle-friendly location (Billings next year, for instance), spend a night in a local motel, attend a day of the rally, and then mount up early the next morning and continue a great motorcycle ride (again, next year perhaps into western Canada) before heading home.

Significantly, I opted to NOT attend the just-concluded MOA rally in St. Paul because of the three-day ?requirement? and the expensive fee. Instead, I spent a few days in early July riding around the Dakotas and western Minnesota, enjoying the scenery and friendly locals of that area. I would have preferred to have sandwiched that ride around a one-day visit to the MOA rally in St. Paul."

 

[6659]

I agree with you completely. I paid for the three day event but only spent Thursday there. On Saturday I thought I would go back in just to check and see if I won any of the door prizes. This time my wife was with me and she has no interest in the event and only was with me for this quick check. The security people told us she could not go in unless she paid the full price just for the 15 minutes it would take to check the door prize list. Of course I did not leave her outside by herself and just left with her. If I did win anything I will have to forfeit my prize.

 

[shandeland]

While I agree that there should be day passes, especially when the rally is held in a large urban area, I think I only paid $40 to attend this years rally.
I pre-registered during March Madness. As I was already member if I recall correctly the rally fee was $40. I have to request vacation first week of January with just a few exceptions so I normally already have my mind made up to attend or not before March. I hope they offer the same deal in 2015.

$40? Even as a warehouse worker with one son having just finished his 9th year of college I can afford that.

Day passes would bring in some more people. A few of them may try to abuse the day pass but the rest of us would just have to help security round them up.

I am sure they will read your e-mail and this forum.

Steve

 

[markaz]

I think day passes would be a great idea. I've never been to a rally but am planning to attend next year in Billings...a friend of mine has a ranch near Lewistown so I'll probably visit there and just make a day trip to the really. OTOH, $40 is not all that much but it might also be nice to have a member & spouse/SO/whatever price , say $50 or $60 instead of 2x the single fee. Or maybe have the single day passes sold only at the door.

My $0.02 worth...

 

[20774]

There may be some concern about people abusing this...they find a way to stay in for longer than the one day. Maybe people could pay a full rally price and if they leave the same day, they would get a partial refund on the way out. Or maybe they come back and say "You know, I see some things that I need to check out, vendors to see...I want to sign up for the whole thing".

 

[braddog]

Let me add another option for single day passes; single day passes to be sold as guest passes. I have no issue paying the $40 fee for 3 or 4 days, no matter how many I use. But this year, the party was in my town, and I had kids and friends who aren't members that would've liked to spend a single day at the rally, but the price to do so wasn't worth it to them.

 

[shandeland]

Let me add another option for single day passes; single day passes to be sold as guest passes. I have no issue paying the $40 fee for 3 or 4 days, no matter how many I use. But this year, the party was in my town, and I had kids and friends who aren't members that would've liked to spend a single day at the rally, but the price to do so wasn't worth it to them.

If I understand correctly a "member" would then be escorting the "guest" during their day visit. That is a great idea.

My parents called and wanted to drop of lunch for me one day. I thanked them and then explained that it wouldn't work unless I met them at the gate. I know Dad would have loved seeing the vintage bikes. They might have even stayed for an hour or so.
I don't think day passes would have solved this would have still been too much $ for a lunch delivery.

I did have a few friends that would have hung out for a day if a day pass was an option. I would have gladly been responsible to make sure they left before Midnight or whatever.

Thanks for helping at the Hospitality Table Mr. Braddog

Steve

 

[osbornk]

There may be some concern about people abusing this...they find a way to stay in for longer than the one day.QUOTE]

I don't think abuse would be a problem because the wrist band could just be a different color for each day. I think the problem would be that many would ride for many miles and then only buy a one day pass. Many of us use the Rally as an excuse to ride and a single day at the rally would be enough for us. If a lot of members bought a day pass, there would not be enough income to pay the expenses of the rally.

 

[Bobmws]

Day passes would have to be for MOA members, or someone sponsored by an MOA member.
I believe Rhinebeck '99 was open to the general public. It was the only event I've had merchandise stolen from my display.

 

[classicvw]

If you make a day pass too affordable, you will risk not only abuse by people staying longer than the day ( after all, how can you check 7 or 8 thousand wrist bands? ) but you will risk riff raff stopping by to steal stuff, and the loud pipe crowd using the rally destination for a day trip.
For those reasons I am not for a day pass.

I also feel that many more riders ride a long distance and hence, dont just stop by for a day but use the rally not only just for a ride, but to relax a couple of days and interact with other BMW riders.

 

[WI Sharon]

Day pass committee

If you make a day pass too affordable, you will risk not only abuse by people staying longer than the day ( after all, how can you check 7 or 8 thousand wrist bands? ) but you will risk riff raff stopping by to steal stuff, and the loud pipe crowd using the rally destination for a day trip.
For those reasons I am not for a day pass.

I also feel that many more riders ride a long distance and hence, dont just stop by for a day but use the rally not only just for a ride, but to relax a couple of days and interact with other BMW riders.

Totally agree with you here. If I wanted to attend a loud pipes rally I can do that in Milwaukee. Day passes are a bad idea in my opinion.


So which one of you pro day pass people are volunteering to chair the day pass committee and arrange a schedule of volunteers to go around and escort people out who have exceeded their day? Oh and don't forget you will be in charge of getting the day pass wristbands made, along with the forms, and you will be responsible for collecting this money and accounting for it as well. I'm sure there is something I missed....

Be prepared to spend your entire rally week taking care of day pass problems and questions. Oh and a couple of months before the rally to get this all worked out.

Volunteer list:
1.

 

[wavid]

Day Passes

I volunteered to work a total of 12 hours over 3 days at the Registration tent at St. Paul. I am a local resident and MOA member. I incorrectly assumed my volunteer activity would translate to an admission to the rally. I was informed otherwise. Day passes would be a plus for everyone. Priced correctly, many more people would be exposed to the positive, mostly happy crowd of BMW enthusiasts. I think strict enforcement of a day pass would be folly - simply post the rules and most people would follow the rules. Yes, a few would find a hole in the fence (so to speak). Setting fees too high or without options leads to more cheating, in my opinion. Yup, my $0.02 worth, flame away if you desire.

Dave Long

 

[jstrube]

I remember talking about this a few years back. A person in the know mentioned a rally where they had George Thouroughgood as a performer, so basically, a lot of riff raff bought $10 day passes, got wasted on cheap rally beer, saw the concert & boogied. He said it was the only rally where the cops were called due to a disturbance.

To me, that one time, would be enough to never do it again, I like paying $40, and being around other people who paid $40 to be there, whether they stay 1 day, or 4.

 

[R1100rtp]

I volunteered to work a total of 12 hours over 3 days at the Registration tent at St. Paul. I am a local resident and MOA member. I incorrectly assumed my volunteer activity would translate to an admission to the rally. I was informed otherwise. Day passes would be a plus for everyone. Priced correctly, many more people would be exposed to the positive, mostly happy crowd of BMW enthusiasts. I think strict enforcement of a day pass would be folly - simply post the rules and most people would follow the rules. Yes, a few would find a hole in the fence (so to speak). Setting fees too high or without options leads to more cheating, in my opinion. Yup, my $0.02 worth, flame away if you desire.

Dave Long

Dave-

Thanks for volunteering! If all our volunteers were admitted free, we couldn't support the rally...Even the Rally chairs register. We discussed a $40.00 day pass for Saturday only, no door prizes, etc, but didn't have time to react.
If that happened you won't have to police it, and escort anyone out. Non-members get the same price as a member that registered early. I'm sure the BoD will discuss again, but....

 

[greenwald]

There may be some concern about people abusing this...they find a way to stay in for longer than the one day.QUOTE]

I don't think abuse would be a problem because the wrist band could just be a different color for each day. I think the problem would be that many would ride for many miles and then only buy a one day pass. Many of us use the Rally as an excuse to ride and a single day at the rally would be enough for us. If a lot of members bought a day pass, there would not be enough income to pay the expenses of the rally.

Different colored wristbands for 5-8 thousand attendees each day would be a logistical and financial burden.

A single wristband for registered MOA members intending to stay multiple dates, and a different coded 'day pass' to be worn about the neck for MOA members that can only make it one day (I could only have made Thursday in St. Paul, and did not endure the 6 hr. one-way commute due to no 'day pass').

Diligent attention by the Security Committee volunteers would promote compliance.

Either way (wristband or neck placard), the event is still open solely to MOA members, eliminating concerns about theft and undesirable elements - it's not rocket science.

 

[pglaves]

I remember talking about this a few years back. A person in the know mentioned a rally where they had George Thouroughgood as a performer, so basically, a lot of riff raff bought $10 day passes, got wasted on cheap rally beer, saw the concert & boogied. He said it was the only rally where the cops were called due to a disturbance.

To me, that one time, would be enough to never do it again, I like paying $40, and being around other people who paid $40 to be there, whether they stay 1 day, or 4.

That simply didn't happen - not as described at least. There were NO day passes at that rally. If the riff-raff arrived it was at full boat price.

I happen to be in favor of day passes. Full rally gets a red wrist band. Thursday gets blue. Friday - yellow, Saturday green. How hard is that. As for theft, etc. If a thief want to come steal cameras, phones, tents, and blankets, they can afford to pay the price for the whole rally. I wish the Board would just decide to do day passes and make it work.

 

[beemerdons]

That simply didn't happen - not as described at least. There were NO day passes at that rally. If the riff-raff arrived it was at full boat price.

I happen to be in favor of day passes. Full rally gets a red wrist band. Thursday gets blue. Friday - yellow, Saturday green. How hard is that. As for theft, etc. If a thief want to come steal cameras, phones, tents, and blankets, they can afford to pay the price for the whole rally. I wish the Board would just decide to do day passes and make it work.

+1, Gunny; Thank You Very Much Paul, extremely well said and this makes perfect sense!

 

[98lee]

I guess the old saying still applies: The cheapest thing on a BMW is the rider".

So I should be able to pay less if I only attend part of the Rally?
How about paying less if I don't use the showers?
Or paying less if I don't listen to the concerts?
Or paying only by the number of seminars that I attend?
I never win anything so I should get a discount on the door prizes.
If I don't buy anything, maybe I shouldn't have to pay for the vendors.
If you only went for a couple of hours and didn't do anything, maybe it should be free.


Come on people, it's ONLY $50 once a YEAR and you can do EVERYTHING or nothing.

You don't get a discount if you only go to the third quarter of a football game, why should you get a discount for not taking advantage of all that is being offered.

If $50 or three days is too much, maybe Rallies aren't for you? Maybe local events are more your
speed?

 

[Sue]

I remember talking about this a few years back. A person in the know mentioned a rally where they had George Thouroughgood as a performer, so basically, a lot of riff raff bought $10 day passes, got wasted on cheap rally beer, saw the concert & boogied. He said it was the only rally where the cops were called due to a disturbance.

To me, that one time, would be enough to never do it again, I like paying $40, and being around other people who paid $40 to be there, whether they stay 1 day, or 4.

Since I chaired that rally, let me debunk that story.
1) The BMW MOA has never offered day passes (with the exception of Rhinebeck in 1999)
2) 2005 - Lima - did not offer day passes for locals to see George Thorogood.
3) The police on-site at that rally were part of the beer garden security as per local regulations
4) The only disturbance at Lima was the storm that rolled though with high winds on Thursday night.

Carry on.

 

[Sue]

costs vs reality

So ... let's talk about budgets, since this proposal of day passes will impact the bottom line.

Assumptions:
..........more people will opt for a one day pass at a lower price
..........conversely, there may be a few more people who may attend the rally, who would have skipped it at the higher fee
..........the rally venue will still need to offer the same amenities:
---------------air conditioned buildings plus:
---------------plentiful portapotties, portable shower trailers, tables, chairs, pipe & drape, shuttles on site, wristbands, various tents for registration, rally programs, staffing for all things MOA related, entertainment, water for the volunteers, a beer garden, seminars (with requisite AV equipment), multi-media sound systems, etc, etc

So - how would you develop a budget which would give everyone the rally experience they have come to expect, without the income at the gate?
You have to know that the venues we are using now are no longer the old fairgrounds of the past.
Sadly, costs have gone up on everything. Would you prefer that we step back in time?

Maybe a more appropriate question should be is, are rallies a dying thing? Should the board consider discontinuing the national rally?