Arkansas State Fair Likely To Stay Put In Little Rock

Greg Rayburn with the Arkansas News Bureau reports that the Arkansas State Fair is likely to stay in its current east Little Rock location.

North Little Rock made a bid for the State Fair in 2011, but voters rejected a sales tax increase that would have helped fund the new location.

Also, Jacksonville remains deeply interested in serving as home to the fairgrounds and it has offered free land to entice a move.  Rayburn reports that won’t be enough:

But even donated land would not address the biggest obstacle to a move, State Fair General Manager Ralph Shoptaw said.

“The problem is, you have to build the facility,” he said. “You have to buy the land, but you have to build the facility, and that is the big obstacle. It is getting the facility so we can have these events. Even if someone gave us the land, it could still cost $80 million or $90 million.”

Due to the huge upfront costs, the fair board has opted for the foreseeable future to keep the State Fair at its current location, which includes a Hall of Industry showroom, Barton Coliseum and barns and stalls for the annual livestock exposition held in conjunction with the fair.

Officials are considering options for improving the site. Shoptaw said he plans to concentrate this year on efforts to buying vacant homes nearby to make way for more parking and making repairs to existing facilities.

You can read more at this link.