Nebraska state senators weigh proposal to relocate State Fair to make room for research park

DATELINE: OMAHA Neb.

A significant number of state lawmakers say they aren't sure whether the State Fair should stay put or move to another site to make room for a University of Nebraska research park.

A consultant hired by the state determined it would cost as much as $175 million to build a new fairgrounds in another location, compared with $31 million for sprucing up State Fair Park to make the fair more of a draw.

Nearly 300,000 people visited the Nebraska State Fair in 2007, though attendance had reached nearly 390,000 in 2003, the consultant noted. The decline was traced to the poor quality of the fairgrounds and the event itself, as well as competing forms of entertainment.

State Sen. Philip Erdman, chairman of the Legislature's Agriculture Committee, has said he wants the issue resolved during this year's session. The committee heard hours of testimony Dec. 14 but offered no recommendation.

In a pre-session survey of Nebraska lawmakers by The Associated Press, 19 said they were unsure whether the fairgrounds should remain adjacent to the university's city campus in Lincoln, move elsewhere in Lancaster County or to another location in the state.

Six senators said they favor moving the fair, six prefer refurbishing the fairgrounds and two believe the fair should be left as is.

Four senators opted to not answer the question and 12 did not participate in the survey.

Sen. Tony Fulton said he likes the idea of a research park, but the cost is a concern.

"If there is some way to achieve an affordable, public-private accomplishment in this regard, it is certainly a generational consideration with merit," he said. "However, there exists a fiscal investment high enough that a research park will not pay for itself. It stands to reason that such a number should be discerned by both the public and private sectors before moving forward."

State Sen. Bill Avery, a University of Nebraska professor, favors relocating the fair.

"It is essential that UNL have room to expand its research facilities," he said. "Doing so would be a tremendous investment in future growth and economic well being for the state."

University officials have said that if the fair were not moved to make way for a research campus, the state would miss out on a chance to enhance the state's economy and create jobs that would help keep young people in Nebraska.

The cities of Grand Island and North Platte have made pitches to agriculture committee members, saying they would be good locations for the fair because of their agricultural roots, plentiful space and proven record for drawing people to large events. Kearney also has expressed interest in hosting the fair.

A group of Lincoln businessmen, calling itself 2015 Vision, proposes that a $102 million fairgrounds to built at the new location in northeast Lincoln without spending additional tax dollars. The new site would be more than 100 acres larger than the present 251-acre fairgrounds, have a mile-long racetrack and a 3,000-seat animal arena.

The current fairgrounds feature 72 buildings, many of which are obsolete and in various states of disrepair, the consultant said.

Though state Sen. Kent Rogert said he has no preferences as to where the fair should be located, he said one thing is clear: "We need a better facility than we have now."

On the Net:

Nebraska Legislature: http://nebraskalegislature.gov

Nebraska State Fair: http://www.statefair.org