ANTELOPE VALLEY FAIRGROUNDS
50th District Agricultural Association
155 East Avenue "I"
Lancaster, California 3535
Telephone: (805) 948-6060
Fairgrounds (opened 2003)
Seats 7,000
About the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds
The new Antelope Valley Fairgrounds opens in 2003 at Avenue H and the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway. Construction started in 1999 to replace the aging, 1939 facility which hosted the Antelope Valley Fair from 1939-2002. The 2002 Fair drew 244,000 attendees.
Both the old fairgrounds and the new site will host parts of the 2003 Fair, but the new site will become the permanent venue beginning with the 2004 edition (always held in late August or early September). The old, 77-acre site has been sold to the City of Lancaster, which will keep a couple of buildings for future use; other development uses have not yet been determined.
The new, 135-acre site will include an updated, 7,000-seat grandstand, two modern exhibit hall buildings, a satellite horse racing wagering facility and a Recreational Vehicle support center.
Quick Facts
•The basics:
The new 135-acre site will be noteworthy for its improved grandstand and exhibition hall facilities. A sparkling, new 7,000-seat grandstand will be the site for concert and stage events of all kinds during the Fair and available for rental during other times of the year.
The new exhibition halls will include 60,200 sq.ft. of space and will be completed by the satellite wagering and administration building. There will be smaller support buildings on site for concessionaires and smaller programs.
•Location and parking:
The new site is located at Avenue H and the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway in Lancaster in the northern end of Los Angeles County. Access to the facility is right off the 14 as you see the new venue.
•Management:
The Fairgrounds is the headquarters for the State of California's 50th District Agricultural Association. The general manager is Dan Jacobs; inquiries about use of the new facility should contact Laura Maluccio, Director of Marketing & Development, at (805) 948-6060 or by fax at (805) 942-2135.
•Technical information:
Construction is continuing on the new site in 2003, but most facilities will be ready for the Fair opening on August 22.
The new grandstand will seat 7,000 and additional seating will be available for concerts on the ground level. The new North Exhibition Hall will measure 140 by 260 feet (36,400 sq.ft.) while the South Exhibition Hall will be 140 by 170 feet (23,800 sq.ft.).
The administration building will also house the year-round satellite wagering facility; in all, it will comprise 28,800 square feet. An RV park support facility and a 750 sq.ft. Entry Office are also planned.
Future expansion plans call for a 100,000 sq.ft. Show Arena, permanent livestock barns and a distinctive clock tower.