While the City of Sturgis wrestles with what to do with this year’s Rally, area businesses are making plans to serve the bikers when they come.

“Everybody who has contacted me said they are coming, no matter what,” said Rick Arneson, owner of the Iron Horse Campground just outside of Sturgis. “We’ve had a few cancellations, but I have a waiting list of people waiting to take their spot.”

Arneson said based on his reservations, he predicts this year’s Rally will see between 400,000 to 500,000 people.

Rod Woodruff, owner of the Buffalo Chip Campground, which has become famous for hosting thousands of bikers and providing entertainment in a variety of forms including major concerts and motorcycle races, said while it is too early to make estimates about this year’s Rally, one thing that is certain is that this year will be different. There was never a question for Woodruff about whether he would host the bikers this year.

“We have a lot of people with reservations and we have a responsibility to have our event go on,” Woodruff said. “Is it going to be the same as before? Probably not. Is it going to be smaller? Absolutely. But we told those people we would be there for them.”

The city of Sturgis has said that it will make a final determination about officially hosting the Rally at its meeting June 15. But regardless of that decision, many believe that bikers will still plan to come for the 80th annual event. Many Sturgis businesses point to this inevitability with the strong start to the state’s regular tourism season.