In considering the future of the event center opening this year on the New York State Fairgrounds, the primary goal in booking the center, according to Acting Director Troy Waffner, will be to bring in events that need a larger venue than was previously available in Central New York. “Nine new shows are coming,” Waffner told State Fair Hound, “There’s a huge new horse show, a drone racing event and a log cabin show. We’re booking into 2019. The calendar is filling up fast.”
Meanwhile, a few of the off-season events in the new king of the western skyline will be expanded versions of current Fairgrounds events, including a boat show and the February Farm Show, that will move into the 110,000-square-foot hall while also using other buildings on the grounds to expand their footprints. 
Some people in the community have expressed concerns that the new center would compete directly with other convention and event venues already serving Central New York, particularly the Oncenter downtown and the SRC Arena on the OCC campus. “This is the largest expo center north of New York City between Cleveland and Boston,” Waffner pointed out. “It has over 100,000 square feet of usable space. For a lot of big shows, that’s their make-or-break point.”
“There just wasn’t anywhere to have big shows in the Northeast that wasn’t a logistical nightmare, like a big city” Fair spokesperson Dave Bullard emphasized. “It works better here (compared to New York) because it’s open and easier to get to.”
For those of us who love our 13-day festival, the necessity of building this $62 million structure is far from a closed case, especially when you consider other needs for the Fair and the space taken up by the event center. “The reason the Governor wanted it built,” Waffner said, “is to improve the year-round number of shows.” 
It’s going to take a few years to shake out the final verdict on whether this project is the best decision at this time. Fair officials are confident that the Expo Center will pay for itself with a pending sponsor name and a busy schedule at the facility by itinerant exhibitors.
Use of the building during the Fair will be divided between ice events, the venerable sand sculpture and an I Love New York tourism exhibit, expanded from the one that occupied part of the Center of Progress last year.
