H.O.G. Rally Could Net Fort Smith $1.5 Million

The 14th annual Arkansas H.O.G. Rally will be rolling into Fort Smith on Aug. 24-26. The 2,000 estimated riders could have an economic impact of $1 million to $1.5 million on the city, said Dave Higgins, the state’s Harley Owners Group Rally coordinator.

This year will mark the first time Fort Smith will host the rally, which began in 1993. In years past, it has been in Little Rock, Hot Springs and at Lake Ouachita State Park in Garland County.

From 1998 until 2005, the event was held in Hot Springs. Last year, the rally had 7,600 registered bikers, which made it the largest state rally in the U.S., Higgins said.

“It’s typical when you move locations and dates of the rally that the attendance will drop,” he said.

The Harley Owners Group has more than a million active members in 23 countries around the world, he said. There are members from 26 states, as far away as California and South Carolina, who are registered to ride this year.

Fort Smith had all the criteria to host the rally, Higgins said, which is what the voting members (H.O.G. chapters and Harley dealerships) vote on when picking a site. The criteria included hotels, city support, rally sites, venues and Harley dealership involvement. Next year, Fort Smith and Hot Springs are on the ballot to host the event. The vote will be held during the 2006 rally.