State Fair considers adding ticket machines

The Colorado State Fair is considering installing ticket sales machines at some gates for the 2015 event.

The Pueblo Chieftain reports General Manager Chris Wiseman proposed the machines to the Fair Board of Authority Wednesday.

Fair officials also said they plan an economic impact study to measure the benefits of the fair and other events held at the fairgrounds.

Wiseman and others will appear before the Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee on Dec. 1 to discuss efforts to reduce the Fair Board’s operating deficit.

The fair board reported a $2.8 million operating loss in 2013. Officials say that included depreciation and doesn’t count contributions from local government as revenue.

They say the cash loss was $116,000.

Figures for 2014 haven’t been reported.