Pueblo County leaders defend state fair’s location
Pueblo County elected leaders insist the Colorado State Fair isn’t going anywhere.
Some members of the Legislative Audit Committee voiced concern at a meeting on Tuesday over the fair’s $3.3 million operating loss last year, and said it may be time to move it to Denver where they believe it will be profitable.
“The fair is an economic driver here in Pueblo and we are the hub of rural agricultural Colorado. This is the right place to have the state fair,” said Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace.
The 11-day fair generates about $29 million into the local economy, according to the fair’s general manager Chris Wiseman.
Pueblo city leaders have reduced funding to the fair in recent years because the city is strapped for cash, a move criticized by some lawmakers. But City Council President Steve Nawrocki said the fair isn’t meant to be a money-making machine.
“I’m not aware of too many fairs throughout the whole United States that actually make money. From my understanding they’re heavily subsidized,” Nawrocki said.
“What other state agency do they demand that locals cover the expense for that stage agency? Colorado Springs houses the Department of Corrections headquarters. But Department of Corrections doesn’t demand that Colorado Springs pay to have that headquarters there,” Pace said.
The daily attendance at the 2014 state fair averaged 45,338 people. KRDO NewsChannel 13 spoke with fairgoers who make the trip to Pueblo from northern New Mexico.
“But if you move it up to Denver where there’s many other attractions, you won’t see me going that far,” said Tom Valdez, who lives in Raton, New Mexico.
“From what I’ve seen, the times I’ve been to the state fair, we do a really good job of hosting it here,” said Dan Dixon, who lives in Pueblo.
Elected officials said they’re ready to fight at the state capitol to keep the fair in Pueblo.
“There’s a lot more in Colorado than just the Denver metro area and I would encourage those legislators to look at a map and start driving south and experience everything that southern Colorado has to offer,” Pace said.
Wiseman said a study will be conducted after this year’s fair to determine ways to improve the fairgrounds. State legislators ultimately have the power to move the fair, but Gov. John Hickenlooper has voiced support for keeping it in Pueblo.
