What's 9 days for a bike race and rally? No question it brings in people, money and attention to the area. Much more than with no race and rally. It also costs the area (via taxes and fees) to provide extra public services to the area for those 9 days. It's really more than 9 days with set up and tear down and clean up.
What's nine days out of the year? Two and a half percent of the year (2 1/2%) not much. When you have a 3 month (12 week) summer season it is a chunk of about eleven percent (11%) of the summer season. Including 2 prime weekends.
The payback is not equal for all residents and businesses. For some residents it is a major pain in the butt. Better for them to rent their house out for big bucks (and with a big security deposit) and take a vacation away from the lake. It's more than getting to and from your house for normal activities. Imagine trying to get a fire truck or ambulance through some of those massive crowds.
For others it is a boon. Imagine just the parking lots. All cash, just sit there and collect the money. No NH income tax and the Feds aren't counting your business traffic to check against the receipts.
Do they charge double, triple or more of the regular parking rates during bike time? Or rent out space to vendors. It's lucrative enough that some areas have been set up just for that purpose. Why build when you can make so much money in a short time this way with little effort. Stores, eateries, lodgings in many area and surrounding towns also see a big surge in business. Just look at the parking lots full of cycles many miles away from Laconia.
In MA. if you are in business for yourself you have state and federal income tax to pay plus an additional 7% self employment tax (goes to FICA). Add it all up and you "could" be paying around 44% of your income or more to taxes (we'll forget about depreciation and deductions). Imagine just sitting under an umbrella and collecting cash and possibly forgetting to give 44% of some of it to anyone.
Over the years there has been a gradual increase in biker activity during the rest of the summer. Bikers attracted to the rally wind up returning to the area throughout the summer. Once introduced to the area they like it and want to come back during non rally time. Too bad we often stereotype. There are some bikers that I would NOT want to run in to in a dark alley. Conversely the majority of bikers I would WELCOME seeing in a dark alley because I would feel comfortable. That could go for any group not just people who enjoy motorcycles.
The Globe article is oddly written. I wish they had more hard information to back up their claims.
Sandy