The plan for the $50 million dollar New York State Fair improvement project was announced by Gov. Cuomo on Tuesday. There’s a lot to review and analyze, and State Fair Hound will have much to say later, but two elements deserve immediate attention.

The Super Dirt Week revving up for October will be the last at the Fairgrounds as the Grandstand and track will be demolished. Cuomo says he’s struck a deal with organizers for a long term contract to continue the event at another Central New York location, to be announced. The Grandstand/track/infield area would then be utilized for other Fair buildings, exhibits and activities. This plan sounds a lot like one suggested by your Hound in a recent post (Tracking the Options, Aug. 18, 2015). Racing fans may be disappointed, but this is great news for those of us who love the State Fair.

Another change promoted by The Hound is a makeover for Chevy Court to improve sight lines, boost comfort and improve technical capabilities to present major acts. The Hound has always believed that a free concert isn’t much of a bargain if fans at the show can’t hear and see what’s on stage. Planned changes should significantly improve the experience for concert fans.

One thing a better venue can’t do is improve the manners of those at the shows, a notoriously rude bunch. Our Fairgrounds covers 375 acres, yet people have to stand or sit around Chevy Court to chat loudly, talk on cell phones, stand in front of seated neighbors, ignore the no-smoking rule and generally behave poorly. As the court changes, it would be great if the fan conduct showed improvement as well.

By the way, doesn’t it seem that every time there’s something new, exciting, innovative and positive to announce it comes from the Gov, as this plan did? But when it’s not so great, take for instance Snoop Dog’s last-minute cancellation, the announcement comes from someone else, typically, Acting State Fair Director Troy Waffner.

We’re still hearing from racing fans who think the decision has been made to plow under the famed mile-long track, ending motorsport events on the Fairgrounds forever. We’ve been told by Fair officials that a final decision on the Moody Mile has yet to arrive, although the Grandstand is indeed doomed. Temporary seating could conceivably be used if the track is preserved, meaning the popular Super Dirt Week event could return to its traditional home.

The way we see it, the preservation of the track, while certainly a good thing for racing fans, has a downside as well. Elimination of the track–and more important, the fence that surrounds it–opens up endless possibilities for use of the area now known as the infield. If Fair patrons could enter that area from the grounds without having to find an opening in the fence, they might discover entertainment venues for concerts, a circus, sideshow-type events, go-carts, bungee rides, stunt teams and so much more. If you let your imagination take over, you could picture food vendors, livestock shows, a picnic grounds or a playground. There’s a lot of space, so the list of possible uses is long. We’d like to see an interior tram or (sigh) a monorail to carry visitors around its massive expanse.

So we have to weigh the options as it doesn’t seem that we can keep the track and maximize use of the infield area. That is essentially what has been tried as many attractions have been set up inside the track, but none has been particularly successful. The fairgoer apparently considers this area too remote and difficult to access.

Most likely opinions will be divided mainly along the lines of those who value the racing venue and those who those who don’t see the need to keep the track for the few successful events that run there. State Fair Hound is wondering if racing events could have another home as there are several other racetracks in Central New York and another on the verge of being built. If we could accommodate racing fans and open up possibilities on the Fairgrounds, that could be the best of both worlds.