Atlanticade biker festival considers P.E.I. to N.B. move

Summerside has some competition for a major motorcycle festival that it's hosted the past three years.

Its contract to hold Atlanticade, which attracts as many as 12,000 bikers from all over North America, is up. Organizers estimate Atlanticade means $1 million to $3 million in business to the city where it's held.

“We're hoping to come up with some arrangement to keep it on the Island but in the meantime of course there's other communities that reach out to us after our commitments are up, wanting to host it in their communities,” said organizer Dale Hicks.

Hicks said Bathurst, N.B. and Moncton, where the festival started, have expressed interest.

Hicks met with officials from both Bathurst and Summerside this week. Summerside's new mayor Bill Martin said as long as the benefits outweigh the financial risk, the city would like to keep the bikes rolling into town.

“If you attract thousands and thousands of visitors to this municipality, they clearly are going to eat here, stay here, buy gas here, All of those are incremental benefits to any community,” said Martin.

Bathurst town councillor Richard Barbeau wouldn't talk specifics of the negotiations, but said Bathurst is very interested in bringing the festival to town. 

He said it would be "great for the economy, no doubt about it." Barbeau added, "They need something new. They've been to Summerside. They've been there, done that." In terms of housing thousands of bikers, Barbeau said Bathurst has "the same amount of rooms as Summerside, or more."

Atlanticade organizers say several factors will determine which city gets the rally. They are looking for funding, local sponsors and volunteers.

A final decision on where Atlanticade 2015 will be held will be made Dec. 3.