Continuing the implementation of Master Plan projects, OCFEC’s Board of Directors in October approved a plan to develop an area identified as the cultural zone, comprised of the current campground, kid carnival, Little Theatre, Buildings 13 and 15, Memorial Gardens, Pacific Amphitheatre and Centennial Farm. In accordance with the Master Plan, a portion of the cultural zone, specifically where the Little Theatre currently sits, will be named “Park Plaza,” and will be an open space setting, flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of festivals, outdoor exhibits, music events and other forms of celebration. The plan is being executed to improve traffic flow on the west end of the fairgrounds, maximize the use of space, enhance the customer experience and increase revenue in identified depressed areas of the fairgrounds.

The plan will focus on the revitalization of the west end of the Fair which currently lacks the energy to affect longer customer stays. “There is a tremendous opportunity to spread crowds by creating a high energy destination point on the west end of the fairgrounds, which currently has a ‘backstage’ feel to it,” noted OCFEC Chief Operations Officer Steve Beazley.

The revitalization calls for the removal of the Little Theatre building in order to book a timed attraction for the 2005 Orange County Fair, i.e. water sports, extreme skateboard show, etc. Removal of the Little Theatre will create an open park-like space offering entertainment, food and retail attractions, as well as open rental space for year round promoters.

Additionally, the Board has awarded a contract for the design of a new multipurpose exhibit building on the Main Mall.

Martinez Architects of Playa Del Rey won the contract at the Sept. 23 meeting of the Fair Board.

Construction of the building and refurbishing of the Main Mall are scheduled to begin in August 2005.

The new structure will replace Building 17, the Youth in Motion building, which will be disassembled and possibly moved elsewhere on the fairgrounds. Besides flexible exhibit space, the ground floor will have a commercial kitchen that can serve banquets in the exhibit building or other fairgrounds venues. Public access will be from the Main Mall.

A second floor in the new building will contain administrative office space, meeting spaces and restrooms.

As part of this project, new facades will be designed for Buildings 10, 12, 14 and 16, and there will be Main Mall lighting and landscaping improvements.

The Fair Board rejected all bids on the proposed Pacific Amphitheatre renovation because they exceeded the budgeted $10 million by over $6 million. The Board directed staff to work with the architect, John Fisher & Associates, and the California Construction Authority to analyze the bids to determine why they exceeded the budgeted amount.

Doug Lofstrom, the Fair’s director of planning and project management, said, “Part of the discrepancy in our approved budget and the actual bids we received could be attributed to a strong construction market as well as the high cost of materials now. Our hope is to continue to use the amphitheatre as part of Fair programming for 2005.”