Lawmakers Vote To Move State Fair To Grand Island

The Nebraska State Fair is leaving its 107-year-old home for Grand Island barring a change of heart by lawmakers.

They gave first-round approval to a bill (LB1116) on Thursday that will put the fair in Grand Island by 2010, and hand the current fairgrounds to the University of Nebraska.

The vote essentially ratifies a deal to move the fair reached by the university, fair officials and the city of Grand Island.

Moving the fair would cost an estimated $42 million. About half would come from the university, which wants the state to use State Fair Park for public and private research facilities.

Grand Island would pitch in more than $8 million for the move; the state, $5 million; and the fair board, $7 million.

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