SIOUX CITY | When RAGBRAI last visited Sioux City in 2010, it was widely speculated the Sunday ride to Storm Lake was the single largest day of cyclists and followers in the history of one of the world's best-known biking events.
A few factors played into that historic day:
No. 1: Sioux City's spot on the Missouri River, which provides the best access for cyclists to dip their back tire into the water at Mlr Tym Landing near Bev's on the River before cycling up Hamilton Boulevard on the way to the first "town" that dots the route, Leeds.
No. 2: At 82,179 people, Sioux City is the largest city on the western side of Iowa.
No. 3: Both Sioux City and the economy were in the midst of bouncing back from the 2008 recession five years ago, putting people in the mood to celebrate.
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Celebrate they did, packing downtown Sioux City with at least 25,000 people for events downtown in 2010, highlighted by a SmashMouth concert.
"We estimated an economic impact of $2.5 million for that one day, the day RAGBRAI started," said Erika Newton, executive director of the city's Events Facilities Department. "That doesn't count the full week or weekend."
Much has changed in Sioux City since 1973, the year the initial RAGBRAI began in the Woodbury County seat, and the first of eight Sioux City cycling stops. The changes have been sweeping since Historic Fourth Street was saved and redeveloped.
The Sioux City Arts Center, an architectural marvel, became a downtown fixture. The $52 million Tyson Events Center and the $12 million renovated Orpheum Theatre opened and continue to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors into Sioux City each year.
Other, smaller, though not insignificant developments, have breathed even more life and revenue into a robust downtown sector; things like Palmer's Old Tyme Candy Shoppe, which opened in 2007, the $13 million Stoney Creek Inn, which began welcoming visitors in 2009, and the new Milwaukee Wiener House, on Douglas and Third streets.
The Sioux City Public Museum relocated to the former JCPenney store downtown since RAGBRAI's last stop. The $12.5 million redevelopment is sure to please cyclists and their friends and families, as well as well-known staples like the Sergeant Floyd River Museum & Welcome Center and the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Betty Strong Encounter Center, all located along cycle- and pedestrian-friendly paths that line the riverfront.
The big addition since RAGBRAI's last visit has to be the development and opening of the $128 million Hard Rock Casino & Hotel, an anchor for the city's entertainment district, one boasting 839 slot machines, 25 table games and all sort of music guests and more.
Collective Soul is a headliner at the Hard Rock's Battery Park on the Friday night before RAGBRAI's launch.
Huey Lewis and The News sweeps into town on Saturday, July 18, rocking downtown in a concert that promises to put thousands in the Tyson Events Center parking lot, near the Long Lines Center.
"We'll have an Expo and a Second Stage running throughout Saturday just south of the Tyson Events Center Box Office," Newton said.
RAGBRAI officials, who did a site visit in January, met with Sioux City leaders at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Beyond the bright lights and activity at the casino, RAGBRAI'ers were impressed with how consumers have joined the city and private businesses in jump-starting activity all along the Pearl Street corridor.
Commercial developer Rick Bertrand has developed and opened four businesses along Pearl Street, all newbies since RAGBRAI last rolled here.
He started with McCarthy & Bailey's in 2011. He then added the Big Snug, Pearl's Wine & Booze and topped it off with his Blue Ribbon Tap.
Nearly 20 years ago, Bertrand rode RAGBRAI as it pulled away from Sioux City. This year, he play host.
"This time around, you can even add a swirl of politics to it," says Bertrand, a Republican state senator who notes the presence of the Iowa Caucuses on Feb. 1, 2016, and the fact a presidential candidate mulls the prospect of riding border to border.
"The political flair will add some fun to the ride," he says. "And Huey Lewis is sooooo Sioux City and soooo appropriate to kick this off. It's going to be a huge street party to showcase Sioux City."
Street party? The term fits, according to Bertrand, who lauds the city of Sioux City for digging up and replacing the infrastructure that supported a weakened Pearl Street as it sagged the last several decades.
What's now happening above the street came about because of the investment below ground, he says.
"Who would have thought that five years ago, you'd see all this happening on Pearl Street?" he asks.
Come mid-July, thousands will see it happening. Maybe enough for another record RAGBRAI day.
