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Updates coming to Missouri State Fair arena

The director of the Missouri State Fair says design work is being finalized for a new, covered arena for the state fairgrounds in Sedalia.

Mark Wolfe tells Brownfield funding from the American Rescue Plan is helping fund the new $50 million facility, which will replace the State Fair Arena located south of the swine barn.

“It will have a full size rodeo arena in it and it will be a nice addition to the overall facility. The State Fair Arena is our one arena that’s the official size for rodeos.”

He says ground should break on the new arena by the end of the year. Wolfe says the ARPA funding will also support a stormwater project.

Additional updates are being considered across the fairgrounds, including building maintenance and building 600 new campsites on new land, and that’s pending on the governor’s approval of the state’s general budget.

“It costs a lot of money to maintain this historic facility. I think we’re somewhere around $80 million in upgrades and improves in the last few years. We’re looking forward to work starting on that in the next five to six months.”

He says the fair is grateful for the support from the state legislature and more details will be known about the general budget by July 1.

Brownfield interviewed Wolfe during the Missouri State Fair Foundation’s Kickoff Party in Sedalia.