The Illinois State Fair has a rich history dating back to 1853 when the first fair was held in Springfield. Multiple cities hosted fairs before Springfield became the permanent home of the Illinois State Fair in 1894. For the first time in this long history, there is now a long-term master plan for the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln (CFLL) recently released the master plan which identifies opportunities to increase year-round events, attendance and economic impact. Creating a vibrant Town Square, adding a hotel and constructing a new 200,000-square-foot multipurpose venue as a signature building are some of the big ideas in the plan.
The Next 10 Community Visioning Plan for Greater Springfield, released in the spring of 2021, identified renovating and activating the Illinois State Fairgrounds as a priority. The stated goal was to make the 366-acre fairgrounds a more significant economic, cultural and entertainment driver for the greater Springfield area and state of Illinois. The CFLL funded the $200,000 planning process. Illinois-based Johnson Consulting was selected to lead the project based on the firm’s extensive experience with fairs and the hospitality and tourism industry and its knowledge of Illinois state government.
During the two-year planning process, Johnson
Consulting worked closely with the leadership of IDOA, interviewed vendors and
stakeholders, conducted field research at the Illinois State Fair, engaged the
public through surveys, researched other state fairs, especially in the Midwest,
and worked with other consultants and subcontractors including MIG, CD Smith,
Hanson Professional Services Inc. and JGMA. Charles Johnson, CEO of Johnson
Consulting, describes the master plan as a macro-study which identifies a
series of potential projects.
While the Illinois State Fair has tremendous assets,
site layout is inefficient and building designs are outdated. The Illinois
State Fair is a loved institution but perceived as being somewhat downtrodden. The
level of investment has lagged other similar facilities nationally. The report
includes data comparing the Illinois State Fairgrounds to fairgrounds in
Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Kentucky, Iowa and Georgia.
Johnson says the initial priority is a big “green-up”
and improving the aesthetics of the grounds. The plan proposes creating a “Town
Square” south of the Midway, beautifying streetscapes, enhancing the curb
appeal, creating a cohesive wayfinding system and improving connections with
the surrounding neighborhood and the community.
IDOA Director Jerry Costello says the master plan
refined the concept of a Town Square gathering space and how that can enhance
the appeal of the fairgrounds. This builds upon improvements already underway. In
the 4 ½ years Costello has been director under Gov. JB Pritzker, the IDOA staff
has increased from 299 to 408. In addition, $58.1 million was included in the
capital budget in June 2022 for improvements to buildings and grounds to begin
to address deferred maintenance. “Governor Pritzker has done more for the
fairgrounds than at any time since Governors Thompson and Edgar,” said Costello.
The fairgrounds has 165 structures. These include the
Exposition Building, built in 1894, the Grandstand built, in 1927 to replace
the original 1896 structure, the Coliseum, Dairy Building, numerous barns, and a
Multi-Purpose Arena constructed in 2000. IDOA and Illinois Department of
Natural Resources headquarters are both located on the property, as well as a
satellite office of the Illinois State Police. Deferred maintenance of many
buildings is a big issue. Restrooms need significant improvements. The Exposition,
Orr, Artisans and Illinois Buildings all need major renovations.
Johnson and Costello both remark that most people are
unaware of the extent of events that take place on the grounds throughout the
year, from horse shows to dog shows to weddings and more. The Coliseum is a
major asset and one of the top horse facilities in the country. However, there
are more opportunities to substantially increase year-round events. The Route
66 attraction, Adventureland, Happy Hollow and Conservation World all have
potential for year-round events and programming.
The plan proposes two tiers of facilities – those that
attract higher impact events and others that are more affordable and appeal to
agriculture-oriented activities. A short-term priority is to remove pole barns
and demolish the Jr. Home Ec Building. A hotel is proposed, subject to a
detailed market analysis, and a new 200,000-square-foot multi-purpose venue. A
racino – a racetrack at which slot machines are available for gamblers – could
also be considered.
Funding will be the biggest issue – both operating and
capital. Currently there are only nine full-time employees who operate the
Illinois State Fair. A priority is to expand staffing and increase funding for
marketing.
Costello says IDOA will initially look at implementing
things that are the low-hanging fruit and can be done in-house – enhancing
buildings and grounds, expanding connections with the Route 66 exhibit and
improving restrooms. Funding will be necessary for larger-scale projects and
will require a broader level of support. The plan recommends considering a dedicated
funding source. Johnson says that finding ways to engage people from St. Louis
and Chicago and expanding partnerships and sponsorships will be key to reaching
the potential identified in the plan. He encourages the Illinois Fairgrounds
Foundation to play a stronger role.
Costello
says the plan provides a comprehensive strategy for the future. John Stremsterfer,
CEO of the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, is hopeful and says
the plan should lead to better outcomes, citing the significance of having a
comprehensive plan for the fairgrounds for the first time. He says this will
help state government prioritize investments that will have the highest impact.
Johnson says the master plan for the fairgrounds complements plans for
expanding the BOS Center in downtown Springfield and developing the Scheels
Sports Park.
The Illinois State Fairgrounds Master Plan is
online at https://cfll.org/Initiatives-Projects/The-Next-10.