Cuomo applauds Onondaga County’s plan for $50M State Fair upgrades

SOLVAY, N.Y. — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he believes “we can do more to maximize the opportunity” of the State Fair.

“I think it’s time we do a facelift for the State Fair,” said Cuomo.

He spoke with reporters on Wednesday at the Solvay–Geddes Community Youth Center following a “Fight for Fair Pay” campaign rally.

Cuomo said he thinks many of the ideas that Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney outlined in her State of the County address on Tuesday are “very exciting.”

The governor went on to say that he is “committed” to investing in the State Fair as one of the “assets that can drive a stronger economy.”

Cuomo has proposed investing $50 million to “transform our State Fairgrounds into a year-round, premier multi-use facility” in his 2015 state budget. That’s the language Cuomo’s office used in the 2015 Opportunity Agenda posted Jan. 21 at the governor’s website.

Mahoney’s proposal

Onondaga County has asked the state to invest $50 million to transform the State Fairgrounds into a “year-round, premier multi-use facility,” according to a slide from the State of the County address.

The slide presentation is available on the Onondaga County website, ongov.net.

Mahoney said $20 million would target the restoration of the “major” building on the grounds, but didn’t name any building specifically.

Mahoney contends the suggested improvements “will create” 480 construction jobs according to another slide. The improvements would result in the rebranding of the fairgrounds as a “New York-themed theme park.”

The speech noted that land adjacent to the Fairgrounds is currently for parking and “not welcoming” and Mahoney wants to make it “more welcoming” to guests.

Mahoney also said the county has a vision of redevelopment across the road from the Fair’s entrance that would “completely integrate the fair with the waterfront and the surrounding village.”

Mahoney also confirmed that the amphitheatre project on the western shore of Onondaga Lake would replace the grandstand as the venue for State Fair concerts that require tickets.

“Let’s make the fairgrounds a true year-round facility,” another slide said. It would represent the “biggest” change to the Fair and the grounds “in 80 years.”

Aqueduct and Saratoga are the thoroughbred capitals, but Mahoney wants to make Central New York “the show horse capital of the Northeast,” with a proposal “for that area to be replaced by a major equestrian park which will be available for other [activities] when not in use [for equestrian events].”

Mahoney also wants an RV [recreational vehicle) park and campground and an Empire Ice Plex, a multi-use facility that could host hockey games and tournaments.

Mahoney would like to see RV park complete by May 2016 and the Ice Plex completed by July 2016, according to her slide presentation.

Mahoney believes the plan will make the State Fair a “world-class entertainment and tourism destination and a major economic driver for the whole state.”

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

PHOTO CAPTION: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday spoke with reporters at the Solvay–Geddes Community Youth Center in Solvay. (Photo by Eric Reinhardt / BJNN)