Mason Kenneth Glyzewski removes bricks from the Harley-Davidson facility, which will be placed at a Harley-Davidson plaza in Sturgis, South Dakota. Photo: CNW Group/Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada.
Harley-Davidson Motor Company and the city of Sturgis, South Dakota, are setting their sights far into the future.
In the spirit of this year’s 75th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Sturgis city officials are finalizing an agreement covering the next 75 years, making Harley-Davidson the official motorcycle of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
“Harley-Davidson riders have attended the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for decades,” said Matt Levatich, president and chief operating officer at Harley-Davidson. “This new agreement will help fuel many more years of freedom, independence, and rebellion for this iconic gathering. Riding is a passion passed down through generations, so it’s important we celebrate the legacy and history of Harley-Davidson in Sturgis, while helping creating new memories.”
As part of the agreement, a permanent plaza will be built on Main Street in Sturgis that will include a stage for events, concerts, and even weddings. The year-round location, which will be completed in time for the 2015 75th Rally, will be the official Harley-Davidson destination for riders and fans alike.
Sturgis: Baked into the bricks of Harley-Davidson
To ensure the new multi-purpose space builds on the legacy of the Harley-Davidson brand and is pure Harley-Davidson, the plaza will integrate bricks from the company’s Milwaukee headquarters, a building that once housed the company’s factory dating back more than 100 years.
To unveil the deal, which has an initial term and renewals running through 2090, Harley-Davidson removed a brick from the historic front entrance using a 2015 Harley-Davidson Street 750 motorcycle. That brick, alongside one from the Harley-Davidson Museum, and 73 bricks from the company headquarters famous motorcycle-only parking area will be delivered to Sturgis on Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
The 75th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will run from August 3-9, 2015, and for those who have had Sturgis on a bucket list, this might just be the year to attend.
For inspiration and pictures from the 2014 Rally, visit www.h-d.com/sturgis.