Ventura County plans to improve and expand fairgrounds
In late Feb. 2023, a deal was made by a private company known as Pacific Sports Group (PSG) with the Ventura County Fairgrounds. In this deal, PSG obtained exclusive rights to set forth a proposal for a large developmental project in the fairgrounds. In this proposal, PSG plans to rebuild and expand the fairgrounds and add a large minor-league baseball stadium with additional infrastructure. Additionally, PSG intends to build a strip mall filled with some oceanfront restaurants and new buildings to attract many people to the fairground area from far and wide.
The cost of building this additional infrastructure is enormous, and the PSG isn’t going to pay the whole 318 million dollar bill. Per their deal, they will only “account for nearly 70 percent of annual revenues and 50% of annual expenses for the Fairgrounds” (page 22), but they fail to clarify who would cover the remaining expenses.
Furthermore, PSG was also planning on adding many structures and features on the land that is already a part of the Ventura fairgrounds. These additions may include conventional halls, office spaces, more parking spaces, a players club, and a transit center. On top of that, the current rodeo arena will also be increased by approximately 25 percent, and the addition of a fairground headquarters will be included.
This plan will draw more people to Ventura, and the increased foot traffic and cars would lead to restricted beach access and parking for locals. During the Ventura County Fair every August, public beach access is blocked for two weeks. Now that there will regularly be large events held at the stadium, beach parking will likely be closed while these events are being held. This will also lead to larger crowds and lines at the beach and more traffic while driving in Ventura. Surfers will experience crowded lineups along the sand, and bikers cruising down the promenade will stop for crowds. Even while driving through the area, people will most likely face traffic during events. The stadium proposal entailed a lengthy 25-page presentation summarizing the proposal prepared by PSG outlining some history of the fairgrounds along with the company’s new ideas for the land. This included building some oceanfront restaurants and new buildings to attract many people to the fairground area from far and wide. However, the building would hurt existing local businesses since the new ones are often subsidized, leaving the existing establishments to compete against the new ones the government chose as winners.
Further, regarding developing new infrastructure, developers claimed that the project would expand and renovate older aspects of the classic fairground. Initiating this plan would heavily intervene in the fairgrounds.
