Meadowbrook gets Bike Bash permit

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Wednesday to grant the owners of the Meadowbrook Musical Arts Center a special-events permit that would allow a four-day “Bike Bash” to be held on the grounds during Motorcycle Week this summer.

At the Town Hall public hearing, Meadowbrook’s principal owner Bob Harding outlined the basics of the first-ever program, and how anticipated public safety concerns were being addressed.

He stressed that his crew — including its own security staff and an independent security firm that will work during the June 14-18 event — have been in discussions with town police and fire officials, as well as other public safety officials in the Lakes Region, to ensure the event remains safe for everyone. “This is the first time we’ve ever done this,” he added, noting that his team wanted to make the “Bike Bash” a positive experience and an annual part of Motorcycle Week.

While Harding did not mention specific numbers of officers, he said there would be plenty of extra private security at the four-day event — more than had ever been on the grounds before. “We’re loaded. . .here will be lots more than we’ve ever had,” he said.

Police Chief John Markland said some of his officers might even patrol the property periodically during the event.

In addition, Harding said NH State Police officers often patrol the area near Meadowbrook during Motorcycle Week, when nearly every other police officer in the state is assisting Laconia and other local police departments.

He said the model police officials are talking about using is similar to the one they now employ for locations like the “Broken Spoke Saloon” area in Laconia where private security officers are on the scene and police officers are located nearby to intercede in an emergency.

For the “Bike Bash,” Harding said Meadowbrook is expanding its typical vendor area to encompass more of the parking area to make room for more vendors. He estimated that between 50 and 100 vendors could take part in the event. Meadowbrook is looking for “high end” vendors like motorcycle companies, custom bike-builders and entertainment venues like the Budweiser Clydesdale horses and a stunt-driving “Wall of Death,” rather than “tattoo artists,” Harding added.

“Bike Bash” would be open during the day with entertainment, vendors and other activities. At night there would be musical concerts by classic rock groups like Steppenwolf, Blue Oyster Cult, Quiet Riot and the Marshall Tucker Band.

Harding estimated that nighttime crowds could grow to as high as 5,000 but it was possible that more than twice that number might be in-and-out during the day. (The “Bike Bash” will adhere to the town’s current 11 p.m. curfew on live outdoor music.)

R.J. Harding, said a security camera system would keep an eye on the crowd to make sure it grew no bigger than about 4,500 people during the day and about 5,000 at night.

But Bob Harding admitted that he did not expect a huge turnout the first year of the “Bike Bash” since Meadowbrook is not extremely close to Weirs Beach, the epicenter of the Motorcycle Week rally, and it is a new event this year.

Right now, Meadowbrook has sold about 1,000 four-day passes at $45 for the event, said R.J. Harding. The operators are thinking they will sell about 90 percent of their tickets at the door each day of the event, he added.