News Sentinel staff
Originally published 06:48 p.m., December 19, 2008
Updated 07:50 p.m., December 19, 2008
American Honda will not hold its annual Honda Hoot in Knoxville in 2009, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam confirmed tonight.
The event drew about 16,000 visitors to Knoxville this year and is one of the largest motorcycle rallies in North America. After starting in Asheville, N.C., it has been held in Knoxville since 2001.
Haslam said American Honda informed the Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corporation on Thursday night that the event would not take place in 2009 due to "economic reasons."
"We're obviously sad to hear the news, because the Honda Hoot folks have been great," Haslam said. "But we understand that in the current economy, things like this happen."
Bill Savino, spokesman for American Honda, said in an interview that it cost the company a lot of money to put on the event.
"We just can't do it this year," he said.
In a message posted on its Web site, American Honda stated the current "economic crunch" could have an effect on its customers next year.
"American Honda will take this time to seek out new and innovative ways to engage with our customers so that we can continue to ride together," the statement continues.
"American Honda extends our deepest gratitude to the more than 1,300 volunteers who helped make the Honda Hoot a success and to all our event sponsors, to our two host cities, Knoxville, Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina, and especially to all the good people who helped make the Hoot such a great event."
More details as they develop online and in Saturday's News Sentinel.