Tri-State Exposition Grasp Plan would goal at boosting space tourism

City officials said efforts are underway to study developing a master plan for the three-state exhibition to boost tourism in the area.

“That conversation started a few months ago when all the key stakeholders were really thinking about what this could be,” said Andrew Freeman, city executive for planning and development services. “So it’s really about 104 hectares of the exhibition grounds and 24 hectares with AISD, in order to then really take out another level of the surrounding commercial area, the residential area, and really look at it holistically.”

The city’s partners include Potter County, the Amarillo Independent School District, the Amarillo-Potter Events Venue District, and the Tri-State Expo Board of Directors.

“On the west end you have the Barrio Neighborhood Plan,” Freeman said. “At the east end is the East Gateway Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, leaving the center untouched. A more specific planning process can really benefit the entire community. The Tri-State Exposition draws over 300,000 visitors. A plan like this wouldn’t just be that take into account public improvements and on-site work, but also what kind of refurbishment and renovation of the private sector would take place just because of the natural growth of that investment.

Officials said the Vision Notes Tri-State Exposition would continue to offer programs, but in a way that would provide a premium, immersive travel destination experience for the visitor and an enhanced cultural and recreational experience for residents.

The per-official planning process would include stakeholder surveys, public participation, analysis of facility demand and economic impact indicators to develop a precise and coordinated fairground roadmap that will guide planning and development for 20 years. It is expected to take a year to complete the plan in collaboration with qualified professional consultants with an estimated budget of $ 150,000.

“I think there is a vision here that the Tri-State Fairgrounds will be a great opportunity for our city to attract tourism events – and bring in those dollars from outside the city,” said Mayor Ginger Nelson. “Bring people here, they stay. So they generate hotel occupancy tax, they shop here, they eat here. This is good for our local businesses. This is good for our economy. We put sales tax on some of their purchases here, so it helps To pay roads and streets and cops. I think it’s good for some of our local partners like the Quarter Horse Association and of course the school district that the Dick Bivins own – they run events there. “

Nelson said if the plan can be carried out in a year, it won’t be big enough.

“I would like to see us put together a plan that will take 20 years – such a big plan,” she said. “And every company is working on the pieces they want to work on. We can look it up in five, ten years and have made significant strides in improving the use of this area of ​​our city for attracting tourism and major events.”