NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas State Fair General Manager Bryan Schulz said the five focus group sessions on the Bison Arena project went well.
"We are just getting the results back from that," Schulz said. "The 50-plus people that we had at the focus groups were just ecstatic about the program and the project coming out. What we're doing, as soon as we get that back, we'll be presenting that to the board and then also going through our structural analysis of the building."
It appears that the building is structurally sound.
"Our architects have said that it is in very good condition," Schulz said. "Obviously, being that old of a building, there are going to be some things that are going to have to be done, but overall, the building is in great shape. We just now start to put the inside together, what it's going to look like."
The state plans to chip in $10 million in an appropriation. The fair is looking for private funding for the other half.
"We have been told anywhere from $16 million to $20 million is what it's going to cost. We obviously are going to be going closer to that $20 million, just to make sure we've got some money in a fund that we can make sure that, if something goes wrong in the future, we've got that and then also to help bring in some additional staffing and stuff, as well."
Schulz wants to make clear that individual projects like this one do receive funding from the Legislature, but the year to year appropriation from the state is relatively small for ongoing maintenance and that's why private funding is always sought in these cases, too.
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