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Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Cabela's waives $25,000 site fee for Pierre tourney
By LETA NOLAN CHILDERS
Capital Journal Staff
In a sweetheart deal, Cabela’s will be bringing its amateur fishing tournament to Pierre and it won’t cost the city or the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce a dime.
“This is a great opportunity to showcase Pierre as a destination for fishermen and their families as well as the place for anyone seeking a homestyle, fun-filled vacation destination,” said Sandi Durick, chamber president.
“This is a national event that will present not just
Pierre but the entire state of South Dakota to the rest of the nation in a positive and entertaining light.”
Noticeably absent from the list of requirements submitted by Cabela’s is the $25,000 site fee the sporting goods company sought from the chamber or the city. Instead, the chamber is offering other perks which can be paid for through fundraising or donations such as a dedicated event coordinator, a rules banquet, volunteer assistance and sack lunches.
“We’ll ask for a couple of local civic organizations to provide the lunches,” said Maggie Owens, the chamber’s chief executive officer. “We’ll pay them a set fee per lunch, fundraising to pay for it. Then, if they want to see if they can get a source to donate the sandwich and lunch fixings, they can keep what we pay them as their own fund-raiser.”
Dave Bonde has been selected as the dedicated event coordinator. According to Owens, he will be paid a stipend for his services, also paid through donations or fund-raising.
The logistics of the tournament has also been established in the agreement with Cabela’s. The tournament will be held on the weekend of June 23 on Lake Sharpe. Portable docks will be used to launch the 250 teams for the event.
Owens said the timing of the event made it possible to bring it to Pierre. That weekend is also the weekend for Oahe Days. Events for Oahe Days are planned throughout that weekend including a juried arts festival, concessions, concerts and other entertainment.
It’s also the only weekend in June that local motels have sufficient open rooms to accommodate the large crowd that the tournament is expected to draw.
“They’re booked,” said Owens. “Which is really good news for Pierre, unless you’re trying to schedule a huge event such as this. We were so fortunate we could dovetail this event with Oahe Days.”
Mayor Dennis Eisnach is also pleased that the negotiations conducted by Owens and the chamber were brought to a happy conclusion.
“This is great for Cabela’s. It’s great for the city of Pierre and the surrounding area,” said Eisnach. “It’s a win-win situation.”
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