Fair Board Offers Governor Alternative to Proposed Sale

COSTA MESA, Calif., Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The OC Fair & Event Center (OCFEC) Board of Directors, at its January meeting, endorsed a revenue sharing proposal as an alternative to the proposed sale of the OC Fair & Event Center property.  "In light of the State's fiscal crisis and Governor Brown's statements regarding local authorities being empowered to conduct their business more efficiently, the Board believes that this alternative would benefit the State and the Orange County Taxpayers," said OC Fair Board Chair David Ellis.

"We, the Board, have heard Governor Brown make policy statements against the one-time sale of State assets, the need to preserve public assets in public control and for more flexible governance at the local level, as well as immediate attention to the enormous budget shortfall facing our State.  A revenue sharing proposal could speak directly to all of these policy statements," said Ellis. "We are eager to see if Governor Brown agrees with our assessment that a revenue share proposal is in step with his philosophies and may be a better solution for the people of California than the current sale, which will be bogged down in the courts for an extended time."    

The Board again raised the issue of ownership of the 150-acre OC Fair & Event Center and reaffirmed that title was vested in the 32nd District Agricultural Association (DAA), whose Board of Directors purchased the property from the Federal Government in 1949.

"Our lawyers have confirmed that title is recorded in the name of the 32nd DAA and therefore, property ownership is with the DAA," said Ellis. "The DAA's ownership of the fairgrounds was admitted in the recent RFP conducted by the State and again at the end of 2010 when the State asked the 32nd DAA to consider a quit claim deed."

The Board also approved release of a request for proposals to seek a partner to advance the development of the Pacific Amphitheatre, the 8,500-seat venue which, in 2010, ranked No. 15 world-wide in attendance for 5,000- to 10,000-seat venues.  The Board plans to seek a partner to begin planning in Spring 2011.  "Should Governor Brown accept our proposal, it is incumbent upon the 32nd DAA to maximize the opportunities of the 150 acre fairgrounds as identified in the OCFEC master plan. Unlocking the potential of the Pacific Amphitheatre is a critical step in that process," said Ellis.

The OC Fair & Event Center is located off the 405 and 55 freeways at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. For more information, please visit ocfair.com or follow us on Twitter – twitter.com/ocfair.

SOURCE OC Fair & Event Center