S
shortstop20
Well-known member
Awesome idea!
HAYDAYS CLOSED!!!!!!!!!
- Thread starter TurboM700
- Start date
Awesome idea!
K
knee deep in it
Well-known member
i talked to a vendor who was there and he is pissed. Many trucks with empty trailers turned around after getting tired of waiting to get in. These were guys coming to buy a sled who gave up before they got into the show.
How is anyone supposed to sell a track or anything that weighs more than 10 pounds if half the buyers had to walk 2+ miles to get back to their trucks?
How is anyone supposed to sell a track or anything that weighs more than 10 pounds if half the buyers had to walk 2+ miles to get back to their trucks?
Agreed!! If the City of North Branch would have allowed this (without the permit fees) in the first place. The traffic would have been a non-issue this weekend. There would have been tons of parking as every home in that area has ample land and I bet a few of those homeowners would have loved to get $10 a car to park for a few hours. Just like the homeowners that had land right next to the old site.
T
TurboM700
Well-known member
The only issue with this is you will be still walking a distance to get in there. All though its a great idea its still a walk.The nearest house that I saw was still a mile from the front gate. They had a good idea with the parking it just needs to be improved on
The biggest thing that they need to fix is the roads in and out of there. They physical can not take that much traffic and once they get backed up there's know turn around. Heck I had a hard time turn around my 4 door truck let alone throwing a 20 foot trailer on the back of it.
I must say that we got right in sunday morning and they had a very good set up once in. Just needs some improvments.
Mike
S
shortstop20
Well-known member
No houses close? There was one within a 1/2 mile of the front gate.
that the one to the south? Sure seemed farther away at the end of the day.
Maybe not, but one would think with all the land nearby (that was not planted) they might have planned for some more parking.
Also remember that the Snobarrons had posted on nearly every poster and on their website that people were not to use hwy 95 through North Branch and were suposed to use the "preferred route" from the south, which was also a cluster. Can you imagine if every one that was stuck on hwy 95 had used the preferred route? hell, people would still be waiting to get in.
It's too bad this can't be moved to the State Fair Grounds or even Canterbury Park. At least both of those places could easly handle the Haydays crowd size.
We tried three different roads and they ALL looked like that! This was our third year of going to Hay Days. We arrived at 8:30 and got stuck in this mess. Finally walked 3 miles to the gait with thousands of other people and got in at 1:00 and they were charging FULL price yet!
Venders were pissed because no one could get in to buy their stuff. Also who wanted to carry things that far. The furthest I heard someone walked was 9 miles! 
Lots of people walking with us had walked 6 or 7 miles. Don't know how they will fix it. Awesome event so hopefully they will come up with something.
M
MN 660
Member
Haydays
Went up Sunday with no problem. I have set up several outdoor sites for farm shows (Farmfest, Dakotafest) over the past twenty years and saw the problems and solutions.
1. need more entrances for public/swappers/vendors/attendees-just 2 entrances of cty 70 is not enough. If possible use several entrances off of cty rd 95 if allowed plus four total off of cty road 70.
2. redo the current field entrances and new ones so they are wide-40'-60' so semis can made the corners and then have two lanes for incoming and two lanes for out going traffic when needed.
3. NEED FOUR HARD SURFACE ROADS INTO THE SITE FROM THE NORTH AND EAST. THESE HARD SURFACE ROADS NEED TO START AT THE CURRENT TWO BLACKTOPS ROADS AND RUN INTO AND THRU THE SITE. Current setup has a hard surface road but doesn't start until the you drive across 3/8 mile of soft alfalfa which will not stand up to heavy semi/trailer traffic.
4.I counted over 50 semis rigs plus hundreds of large tandem and triple axle trailers-these units need hard surface roads!!
5.THE CURRENT HARD SURFACE ROAD IS 30' WIDE BUT THE GATE ENTRANCE ON THE SOUTH SIDE BY THE RACE TRACK IS ONLY 18'. Huge mess at this gate on sunday when everbody was trying to leave
6.Sunday afternoon when swappers/vendors/attendees/swap meet haulers were leaving everbody had to leave on the one 30' wide hard surface road past the track down thru the 18' ft wide gate then out on to the alfalfa field and then 3/8 mile winding thru the parking lot then out 1 or 2 narrow field drives and then on to one cty road 70. Need numerous entrances for move in and move out!
This is just a few ideas for moving equipment in and out plus there are numerous other problems to work on such as parking crew, ticket taking, large four wheel tractors on hand with drivers and tow ropes to handle stuck equipment, marking parking lots, vendors stuck in dead end corners, etc.
Went up Sunday with no problem. I have set up several outdoor sites for farm shows (Farmfest, Dakotafest) over the past twenty years and saw the problems and solutions.
1. need more entrances for public/swappers/vendors/attendees-just 2 entrances of cty 70 is not enough. If possible use several entrances off of cty rd 95 if allowed plus four total off of cty road 70.
2. redo the current field entrances and new ones so they are wide-40'-60' so semis can made the corners and then have two lanes for incoming and two lanes for out going traffic when needed.
3. NEED FOUR HARD SURFACE ROADS INTO THE SITE FROM THE NORTH AND EAST. THESE HARD SURFACE ROADS NEED TO START AT THE CURRENT TWO BLACKTOPS ROADS AND RUN INTO AND THRU THE SITE. Current setup has a hard surface road but doesn't start until the you drive across 3/8 mile of soft alfalfa which will not stand up to heavy semi/trailer traffic.
4.I counted over 50 semis rigs plus hundreds of large tandem and triple axle trailers-these units need hard surface roads!!
5.THE CURRENT HARD SURFACE ROAD IS 30' WIDE BUT THE GATE ENTRANCE ON THE SOUTH SIDE BY THE RACE TRACK IS ONLY 18'. Huge mess at this gate on sunday when everbody was trying to leave
6.Sunday afternoon when swappers/vendors/attendees/swap meet haulers were leaving everbody had to leave on the one 30' wide hard surface road past the track down thru the 18' ft wide gate then out on to the alfalfa field and then 3/8 mile winding thru the parking lot then out 1 or 2 narrow field drives and then on to one cty road 70. Need numerous entrances for move in and move out!
This is just a few ideas for moving equipment in and out plus there are numerous other problems to work on such as parking crew, ticket taking, large four wheel tractors on hand with drivers and tow ropes to handle stuck equipment, marking parking lots, vendors stuck in dead end corners, etc.
Last edited:
Traffic
I went both days, Saturday was not bad for us, I think we got lucky. We left the campground around 8:00 am and mad it into the show about 9:30 am, we came in from the East then North to the show. Sunday we drove all the way in and parked about 100 ft from the gate.
What really made me mad, as a dealer, is that I went through 3 or 4 months of calling them and trying to get a booth set up only to be told that the did not anymore vendors. You could call me a local, about 300 miles from the show, and I'm told that they do not want me as a vendor. They said that if they have to many people trying to sell the same thing a pricing war could happen. Fine with me, then it comes down to service and it ends up good for the guy who is going there trying to find a deal.
I called about 5 or 6 times before the show and was told that the site layout was not done, then was told that the layout was done and I needed to call back again to see where everyone would be layed out. I then called back a few weeks later and they said I probably would not work for them so I should call back again in a few weeks to see if I could get in. I never called back.
Thanks
Mark
I went both days, Saturday was not bad for us, I think we got lucky. We left the campground around 8:00 am and mad it into the show about 9:30 am, we came in from the East then North to the show. Sunday we drove all the way in and parked about 100 ft from the gate.
What really made me mad, as a dealer, is that I went through 3 or 4 months of calling them and trying to get a booth set up only to be told that the did not anymore vendors. You could call me a local, about 300 miles from the show, and I'm told that they do not want me as a vendor. They said that if they have to many people trying to sell the same thing a pricing war could happen. Fine with me, then it comes down to service and it ends up good for the guy who is going there trying to find a deal.
I called about 5 or 6 times before the show and was told that the site layout was not done, then was told that the layout was done and I needed to call back again to see where everyone would be layed out. I then called back a few weeks later and they said I probably would not work for them so I should call back again in a few weeks to see if I could get in. I never called back.
Thanks
Mark
S
shortstop20
Well-known member
The crazy stuff People find on the interweb.
Hay Days - Sunrise Township
Chisago County, MN
Project Type: Event
Development Overview
Hay Days is the largest snowmobiling event in the world. The outdoor event organized by the Sno Barons Snowmobile Club consists of a swap meet, vendor exhibits, and drag racing on grass. The annual event is held on the second Saturday and Sunday of September and draws approximately 35,000 spectators. The event has outgrown their current site and Sno Barons is planning to move to a 220 acre site on Highway 95 in Sunrise Township. An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) was prepared by RLK to assess the environmental impacts of the proposed project.
Project Scope
Mr. Spack prepared the traffic impact section of the EAW. A key component of the traffic impact study was leading a task force with City of North Branch, Chisago County, and MnDOT staff to determine and address the traffic impacts of the large event.
Baseline data was collected at the Hay Days event to determine where the spectators were coming from, how many vehicles arrived per hour, and how many people arrived per vehicle. Approximately 70% of the spectators were surveyed, which provided a robust data set of the event’s travel patterns. This data was the cornerstone of providing an accurate traffic study for the proposed Sunrise Township site.
A traffic impact study was prepared for the proposed Hay Days Site. The study analyzed the traffic impact of the event in 2008, 2018, and 2030 to address the potential long term traffic impacts of the event. Thirty intersections were analyzed in the Saturday morning, Saturday evening, and Sunday evening peak hours. Micro-simulation models were developed to detail the stacking of vehicles at the study intersections. The traffic mitigation plan developed for the event included signing and advertising official routes, placing approximately sixteen police officers throughout the county for traffic control, and developing a detailed plan for parking lot operations to provide the most efficient ingress and egress possible. Mr. Spack presented the traffic study process and findings at approximately ten public hearings.
Accomplishments
The EAW process took approximately two years due to local concerns related to the event. Six traffic task force meetings were held over the course of a year to develop the traffic impact study. The traffic impact study prepared for Hay Days was a component of the final EAW which was approved in 2008. The county granted Hay Days a conditional use permit in early 2009 and Sno Barons will grade the site in 2009. Hay Days is planned to be held on the new site in 2010. Mr. Spack continues to provide traffic engineering services to Sno Barons.
Hay Days - Sunrise Township
Chisago County, MN
Project Type: Event
Development Overview
Hay Days is the largest snowmobiling event in the world. The outdoor event organized by the Sno Barons Snowmobile Club consists of a swap meet, vendor exhibits, and drag racing on grass. The annual event is held on the second Saturday and Sunday of September and draws approximately 35,000 spectators. The event has outgrown their current site and Sno Barons is planning to move to a 220 acre site on Highway 95 in Sunrise Township. An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) was prepared by RLK to assess the environmental impacts of the proposed project.
Project Scope
Mr. Spack prepared the traffic impact section of the EAW. A key component of the traffic impact study was leading a task force with City of North Branch, Chisago County, and MnDOT staff to determine and address the traffic impacts of the large event.
Baseline data was collected at the Hay Days event to determine where the spectators were coming from, how many vehicles arrived per hour, and how many people arrived per vehicle. Approximately 70% of the spectators were surveyed, which provided a robust data set of the event’s travel patterns. This data was the cornerstone of providing an accurate traffic study for the proposed Sunrise Township site.
A traffic impact study was prepared for the proposed Hay Days Site. The study analyzed the traffic impact of the event in 2008, 2018, and 2030 to address the potential long term traffic impacts of the event. Thirty intersections were analyzed in the Saturday morning, Saturday evening, and Sunday evening peak hours. Micro-simulation models were developed to detail the stacking of vehicles at the study intersections. The traffic mitigation plan developed for the event included signing and advertising official routes, placing approximately sixteen police officers throughout the county for traffic control, and developing a detailed plan for parking lot operations to provide the most efficient ingress and egress possible. Mr. Spack presented the traffic study process and findings at approximately ten public hearings.
Accomplishments
The EAW process took approximately two years due to local concerns related to the event. Six traffic task force meetings were held over the course of a year to develop the traffic impact study. The traffic impact study prepared for Hay Days was a component of the final EAW which was approved in 2008. The county granted Hay Days a conditional use permit in early 2009 and Sno Barons will grade the site in 2009. Hay Days is planned to be held on the new site in 2010. Mr. Spack continues to provide traffic engineering services to Sno Barons.
Only cop I saw on the drive in was sitting at the 4-way intersection south of the gates. And no way in hell was he directing traffic, looked like coffee and BS with a sno-baron.
Well at least I don't think you can direct traffic from 5 feet off the shoulder towards a field/ditch with you back to all the cars.
Well at least I don't think you can direct traffic from 5 feet off the shoulder towards a field/ditch with you back to all the cars.
We went had a good time as usual. Been coming for 6 yrs and always went smooth. We didnt figure it was gonna go as smooth as some thought. we had friends that also walked in 3 miles and left the hotel at 8 and didnt get a bracelet til 12. they werent happy but they werent gonna make everyone happy. Hopefully next year the planning is better,cause it is fun to go and hang with people with common ground. good luck to them
H
haydaysswaptroll
Active member
As a Sno Baron, I feel I need to respond to some of these posts. I didnt finish reading all of them as my basic membership is limited.. and I'll probably miss something as I try to remember what was all mentioned in this thread.
First and foremost there was a lack of parking. There's approximately 60 more acres already secured for next year. One of the issues we had this year is the county would not let us park cars across the street [for example the large cornfield someone mentioned]. The county did not want people crossing the street, so instead they ended up with people walking miles in the street.
The county required $500 permit for neighbors to park cars. No one felt like ponying up the coin if they had no idea they'd make it back. That should change for next year, as the neighbors saw how big this event is.
We dont own the parking field that was used and cannot put down aggregate, etc for improvement to it. Working on some sort of solution for next year but as far as I know the farmer wants to grow hay throughout the entire parcel. This land has more clay in it than the old area which was basically sugar sand. Fine if it doesnt rain but potential for a mess with heavy rains the night before, as well all saw.
The state required us to route all traffic around the back and not use Hwy 95 in the front, which was a disaster. This basically forced ALL the traffic into a central choke point. That should be changed next year. [There are traffic management meetings already scheduled].
The old site was abandoned due to permitting. Lino Lakes was not going to grant one for this year.
SnoBarons were not turning spectators away at the gates.
The permit for the new location was granted this spring. [Ideally we would have liked to moved 2011, but Lino Lakes wasn't going to grant the permit for 2010]. It left us little time to get everything done. Besides time, the CAPITAL requirements, which everyone seems to forget about, were immense. There is only so much money around and the event requires tremendous amount to put on, plus land development, trucking in clay for the track, etc..
fyi for those that don't know.. we don't get paid. This IS a volunteer event. Profits generated by the club go back to snowmobiling via grants to other clubs for trail development, bridge building, groomer purchasing, etc as well as donations to charity. Something to consider before ripping the event to pieces.
The event won't be moved to BIR, the state fair, Canterbury etc. We finally own our own place and plan to develop it with time and as money allows.
Swap gate will be widened. This was a complaint of mine before the event but try and convince an engineer in an office that the field experience is different..
If you were pre-registered and turned away, please contact me. As far as I know there were only 2 or 3. One was in the wrong lane, one showed up Saturday morning which is nearly impossible to park during peak and the other mentioned on here. I'd be happy to talk to anyone that was didnt get in and was pre-registered.
Next year pre-registered swappers will need to be there Friday to get parked or have to wait till Saturday night. It's too busy Saturday morning to try and bring people in. Also, everyone will be required to be preregistered for swap. No more drive up last minute and hope a spot is available.
I can't comment on returned or non-returned phone calls regarding vendors. Not what I work in. Sorry.
Anyone feels that they need something discussed personally, send me your phone # via pm and I'd be happy to contact you.
First and foremost there was a lack of parking. There's approximately 60 more acres already secured for next year. One of the issues we had this year is the county would not let us park cars across the street [for example the large cornfield someone mentioned]. The county did not want people crossing the street, so instead they ended up with people walking miles in the street.
The county required $500 permit for neighbors to park cars. No one felt like ponying up the coin if they had no idea they'd make it back. That should change for next year, as the neighbors saw how big this event is.
We dont own the parking field that was used and cannot put down aggregate, etc for improvement to it. Working on some sort of solution for next year but as far as I know the farmer wants to grow hay throughout the entire parcel. This land has more clay in it than the old area which was basically sugar sand. Fine if it doesnt rain but potential for a mess with heavy rains the night before, as well all saw.
The state required us to route all traffic around the back and not use Hwy 95 in the front, which was a disaster. This basically forced ALL the traffic into a central choke point. That should be changed next year. [There are traffic management meetings already scheduled].
The old site was abandoned due to permitting. Lino Lakes was not going to grant one for this year.
SnoBarons were not turning spectators away at the gates.
The permit for the new location was granted this spring. [Ideally we would have liked to moved 2011, but Lino Lakes wasn't going to grant the permit for 2010]. It left us little time to get everything done. Besides time, the CAPITAL requirements, which everyone seems to forget about, were immense. There is only so much money around and the event requires tremendous amount to put on, plus land development, trucking in clay for the track, etc..
fyi for those that don't know.. we don't get paid. This IS a volunteer event. Profits generated by the club go back to snowmobiling via grants to other clubs for trail development, bridge building, groomer purchasing, etc as well as donations to charity. Something to consider before ripping the event to pieces.
The event won't be moved to BIR, the state fair, Canterbury etc. We finally own our own place and plan to develop it with time and as money allows.
Swap gate will be widened. This was a complaint of mine before the event but try and convince an engineer in an office that the field experience is different..
If you were pre-registered and turned away, please contact me. As far as I know there were only 2 or 3. One was in the wrong lane, one showed up Saturday morning which is nearly impossible to park during peak and the other mentioned on here. I'd be happy to talk to anyone that was didnt get in and was pre-registered.
Next year pre-registered swappers will need to be there Friday to get parked or have to wait till Saturday night. It's too busy Saturday morning to try and bring people in. Also, everyone will be required to be preregistered for swap. No more drive up last minute and hope a spot is available.
I can't comment on returned or non-returned phone calls regarding vendors. Not what I work in. Sorry.
Anyone feels that they need something discussed personally, send me your phone # via pm and I'd be happy to contact you.
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