Clark County leaders are preparing to move forward with the next phase of long-discussed renovations at the county fairgrounds, with early design work expected to begin soon as part of a broader capital improvement effort.
The projects stem from a long-range master plan that outlines up to $170 million in upgrades across the fairgrounds, presented to the Clark County Council last July. Available funding, however, was projected to reach about $70 million through 2042, largely supported by the county’s exhibit hall fund, known as Fund 1026, which draws from hotel and motel tax revenue. That fund currently holds just over $19.8 million, which could grow to over $21 million based on projections, and spends roughly $600,000 annually on operational and maintenance costs.
County staff is now proposing a first phase of projects totaling more than $30 million, focusing on improvements to expand year-round use and modernize aging infrastructure.
The four primary projects include relocating the maintenance shop and yard, building a covered rental pavilion and event plaza, replacing South Halls 1 and 2 with a more flexible event facility and adding a marquee entrance along Northeast 179th Street. Construction for these four outlined projects is expected to roll out in phases between 2027 and 2029.
Staff told council members that relocating the maintenance shop to an area behind the grandstands opens up space for future development and improves the visitor experience.
“This is a need that would allow us to use that area to build the buildings that we are proposing,” Managing Director of Events Amy Ihrig said. “So this will help to create an inviting front entrance to our facility and our event spaces.”
Another major focus is replacing the current food court, which contains 16 booths but is only usable during the 10-day county fair due to a lack of enclosure, utilities and climate control.
“It is in need of renovation and the existing building is not valued at a cost that would make it worthwhile to remodel that building,” Ihrig said. “So our proposal would be to build a new covered rental pavilion that contains one or two permanent food concession spaces that could be used during all of our year-round events.”
The new pavilion would also include a rentable kitchen and flexible seating, allowing the fairgrounds to host events such as weddings and banquets while still accommodating food trucks and temporary vendors at larger events.
Currently, staff rely on temporary setups to meet food demand outside of fair season.
“This is actually how we are addressing the needs at our current events,” Ihrig said. “This weekend, we have a large event. We are going to have six food booths on the Midway.”
County Chair Sue Marshall raised concerns about how the changes might affect traditional fair vendors, such as those known for iconic foods. Staff said many vendors have expressed willingness to adapt.
“We've spoken to quite a few of them who would be willing to put up a temporary structure similar to the tent you see in the picture,” Ihrig said. “We would work with each of them, but several of them have said that they would be willing to come back in a tent-type structure during the fair.”
The third project would replace outdated, non-climate-controlled South Hall buildings with smaller, flexible meeting spaces designed for groups of 50 to 200 people. Right now, the fairgrounds can only offer much larger spaces at the Exhibition Hall, limiting its ability to attract certain events.
“We are accommodating them, but it would be better if we had a space that was really designed for those events,” Ihrig said.
The final project in this phase would add a marquee entrance along Northeast 179th Street, improving visibility and traffic flow during large events.
To pay for the work and future efforts, the county is considering issuing roughly $31 million in bonds, primarily backed by a state sales tax credit tied to regional facilities like the fairgrounds. That funding can only be accessed if tied to active projects and debt.
Council members were presented with options for a 20-year or 30-year bond, with staff recommending the longer term. While the 30-year option carries higher total interest costs, it lowers annual payments to around $2 million and allows the county to continue collecting the state sales tax credit for a longer period.
That extended timeline significantly increases projected revenue to Fund 1026 over time, resulting in a much higher long-term fund balance compared to a shorter-term bond, even as funds are expected to be spent on future projects.
The county’s existing exhibit hall debt, about $694,000 annually, will continue through 2042 alongside the new debt if approved.
Council members signaled unanimous support for the 30-year bond structure, citing the ability to maximize long-term revenue and complete projects sooner rather than waiting to accumulate cash.
Next steps include staff returning to the council in August with a formal bond resolution. If approved, the bond sale could be completed by October, while architectural and engineering work is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Additional future projects under consideration include repaving parking areas, improving ADA access, covering the outdoor arena for year-round use and addressing structural concerns in livestock facilities. A portion of the $637,000 in outlined architectural and engineering costs for these future projects was approved for the county’s 2026 budget, according to county staff.
