NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas State Fair General Manager Bryan Schulz was pleased to talk about the newest facility upgrade just finished on the Fairgrounds.
Our Expo Center, that's our equestrian center," Schulz said. "Last weekend, we had our first event in there. We did about a $1.3 million renovation on that building. New roof, new heat, new side panels, new insulation, new lighting. I mean, it looks fantastic in there. Obviously, there are little things that we have that weren't in the budget that we're going to be working on in the next couple of years to bring it up. A new sound system should be going in there shortly."
There's also some deferred maintenance that is being worked on elsewhere.
"We are constantly looking at areas to make sure that it's safe for everyone that comes in there," Schulz said. "This year, we are working on the grandstand. We are resealing all of the concrete on that. There was an area where it was leaking down into the lower levels. We're getting all that fixed up right now. We're doing overlays on some of the asphalt, because that is a big thing, making sure there's no trip hazards out there."
Also, one of their inspections resulted in the demolition and eventual rebuilding of the Lake Talbott stage.
"We went out there and assessed it," Schulz said. "It was just getting to the point where it was getting a little rickety and the underfootings were getting beat up a little bit, so we just decided, for safety reasons, to take it down. We are in the process right now. We've got some drawings going up to Topeka to get approved. Our plan is by fair time that we'll have a brand new Lake Talbott stage."
The Fair Food and Tunes events this summer will be at the People's Bank and Trust Arena in June.