NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In another bizarre turn of events, the state has ordered the promoter of Nashville Bike Week to immediately cease and desist all ticket sales to the planned motorcycle rally this fall.
According to a report on News Channel 5, the festival is in violation of a Tennessee state law that requires promoters who plan a large festival to apply for a mass gathering license from the Tennessee Department of Health before they even "advertise, organize or sell tickets."
A mass gathering license is required for any special event where more than 5,000 people will be gathered for more than 18 hours. When applying for one, promoters must tell the state the maximum number of people who will be at the event and what sort of provisions will be made to handle them all.
The report goes on to say that the attorney for NBW is saying the festival has not applied for the license, which is estimated to cost $1,000 for the 10 day event, and is not sure they plan to apply for the license, which may indicate nothing more than expected attendance for the event has been scaled back to under the 5,000 attendance threshold.
The Facebook page for NBW does not address this action by the State of Tennessee, and only assures visitors that "online ticket sales will resume soon."