HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With one concert yet to be announced, ticket sales for the NexTech Grandstand shows at the 2025 Kansas State Fair have as a group covered 81 percent of the cost for those shows. General Manager Bryan Schulz told the Kansas State Fair Board Wednesday at a meeting in Emporia this was pretty amazing for this point ahead of the fair.
What’s expected to be the final show announcement for this year’s fair will be released Monday. The show is scheduled for the second Saturday, Sept.13. As of now, the Tuesday of Fair week will be “dark” with no events anticipated, although that may still change. Schulz also said Denny Grant and the Cowboy Circus will be the featured entertainment in Gottschalk Park during the fair.
Schulz also discussed the possibility of increasing the fair’s entertainment budget for 2026. He said one of the groups they are looking at for next year, which would be a big-name act, would carry a $350,000 price tag. It was also noted costs are increasing for free-stage and roaming acts that are a major part of the fair.
A report was also given on a new “No Junk Fees” rule that took effect Monday requiring full disclosure of all fees associated with such things as ticket purchases. This rule was put in place in the wake of issues involving some major national ticket vendors, in particular surrounding the Taylor Swift “Era’s” tour.
The board was told Phase I of the Bison Arena renovation is on track to be complete in early August, and a pre-bid meeting for Phase II is scheduled for next week. Work is also proceeding on the new covering for Peoples Bank and Trust Arena, where the contractor ran into some issues related to various wiring and piping nobody knew anything about encountered as excavation was being done for the pillars, which was worked around.
Bids are currently out for an asphalt paving project extending from the dairy barn to Gate 1, and they are looking at the potential of adding some asphalt to parts of Lot 2 on the southwest corner of the fairgrounds. Schulz told the board new LED lighting is being installed in the NexTech Grandstand, replacing existing lights that have an extremely heavy current load. As part of this additional lighting will be installed on the northwest corner of the grandstand exterior, which will enhance safety in that area.
Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation Director James Fischer told the board while final figures are not yet in from the Hats and Horses Fundraiser on May 3, they are expecting to clear about $40,000 from it. Their next big fundraiser is Boots and Bling coming up in August. Fischer also said the KFF board will be having a retreat next week, during which they will be meeting with a representative of the Iowa State Fair’s Foundation, which has been extremely successful in raising funds for that fair over the years.
Representatives of the Grand Drive reported on sponsorships for this year’s event including the new sponsorship of MKC for the showmanship award. Grand Drive Chair Janice Nikkel told the board 40 applications were received for Grand Drive Scholarships, with ten $1,000 scholarships to be awarded. Applications for the scholarships are currently being reviewed.
Grand Drive board member Coffman Liggett said they are looking at using the north half of the annex for fitting stands, as there isn’t necessarily room for them in the goat and sheep barn. Exhibitors would rent spaces, with proceeds from that to be used in part to address electrical issues in some of the livestock buildings.
Race promoter Phil Nightingale told the board despite cold temperatures they had a good turnout for their first two races of the 2025 season. Nightingale said they have added 20 new sponsors for the 2025 race season, and at their next race May 23, they will be having a kids night with touch a truck and various booths and things for youth. On May 30, they are hosting a national touring sprint car event.
During the meeting the board dealt with a number of alcohol matters, including approval of revisions to vendor contracts working with the Attorney General’s Office. The major change involves having these policies made an addendum to space contracts for the fair. It also approved alcohol sales for a number of events taking place during the summer including race nights and other special events.
The board approved a policy change related to concession stands, limiting the number of stands any one vendor can have to five. Schulz said the purpose of this is to avoid a situation where if a large concession operator were to pull out at the last minute the fair would have to scramble to find replacements. The four or so concessionaires who currently exceed that limit will be grandfathered under the new policy. Schulz also reported on a couple of recent sales of concessions at the fair including one food vendor and the bungee jump.
In other actions, Schulz was given authorization to turn over uncollectible debts to the state set-off program, of which right now there are two. The board tabled action on a proposal for a cigar lounge at this year’s fair and for a tribute to agriculture plaque at the Pride of Kansas Building, the latter pending additional information.
