Officials of the North Texas Fair and Rodeo are presently drawing up plans for a 111-acre, $70-million-dollar site as a new location. They’re also planning for the new fairgrounds to attract and host other types of exhibitions. Although the budget is not yet firm, the facility is now in the process of being designed.
Glenn Carlton, the fair’s Executive Director, stated to local media: “If you’re familiar with the fair and rodeo, you know it outgrew this facility about 20 years ago,” in reference to its current location at 2217 N. Carroll Blvd. in Denton. “I think the move to the new location will allow the event to grow — and even double or triple in size,” he explained.
Photo: Facebook/North Texas Fair & Rodeo
The current North Texas Fairgrounds has hosted approximately 200K visitors in its 33-acre area, running its annual fair over a nine-day period in August. In an effort to attract a new clientele, the new facility is presently being referred to as the North Texas Expo Center. It’s projected to house a multipurpose arena, an exhibition hall, an entertainment pavilion, as well as a livestock building. The arena is being designed at 130,000 square feet and will seat 8K visitors. It will be a covered facility which is anticipated to double the existing rodeo attendance of 4K.
Photo: Facebook/North Texas Fair & Rodeo
Over the course of the rest of the year, the arena will be made available to rent for other events. In particular, those that focus on livestock and horses. For anyone looking for expo space in North Texas, the new property’s exhibition hall will certainly be appealing. At 94K square feet, it will house three 15K-square-foot exhibition spaces which will also have the ability to be combined for a maximum 45K-square-foot hall. Carlton believes the facility will have no problem attracting several outdoor-oriented expos in sectors such as RVing, boating, equine-related events, home and garden expos, and even heavy equipment events. It’s been estimated that outdoor events at the facility could easily accommodate 20K-25K in visitors.
Photo: Facebook/North Texas Fair & Rodeo
A covered entertainment pavilion, a 90K-square-foot livestock building, and 120 RV spots (designed with horse trailers in mind) are also to be incorporated into the project. The North Texas Fair and Rodeo are expected to be able to move to their new grounds by 2023. In the interim, the design is near completion, and over the coming months, the association will be meeting with possible clients to ensure that it meets their needs as well. An economic impact study on the fair and what this means for Denton will also be completed, followed by a funding mix that will suit the project nicely.
