Will the Iowa State Fair happen this year?

Will the Iowa state fair happen in 2020?

  • Yes

    Votes: 84 27.5%
  • No

    Votes: 177 58.0%
  • I will not be going if it does open because of COVID-19

    Votes: 44 14.4%

  • Total voters
    305

cygrads

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2007
4,969
2,727
113
Altoona, IA
Honestly I don’t think a lot of vendors/food vendors will show up either. Why go through all of the trouble just to maybe break even this year? At this point it’s in the best interest of everyone(including financially) to just cancel the fair all together. I’m convinced the fair itself wouldn’t even make a whole lot money this summer.
It would be interesting to know what level of attendance is the break even point. Probably different for different types of vendors. Anyone on here know a vendor to find out?
 

cygrads

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2007
4,969
2,727
113
Altoona, IA
I answered no to the state fair happening but the way things are trending after the governor's news conference today I say it's on although maybe at a stripped down version.
 

spinback32

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 24, 2006
231
270
63
Cedar Rapids
Honestly I don’t think a lot of vendors/food vendors will show up either. Why go through all of the trouble just to maybe break even this year? At this point it’s in the best interest of everyone(including financially) to just cancel the fair all together. I’m convinced the fair itself wouldn’t even make a whole lot money this summer.

If the fair is a go, and a vendor doesn't show up - they lose their spot. It's stupid, but, sounds like that's the way it goes.
 

madguy30

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2011
50,140
46,953
113
I answered no to the state fair happening but the way things are trending after the governor's news conference today I say it's on although maybe at a stripped down version.

Isn't the decision June 15th?

They may have enough information by then by these previous openings to determine things like that.

Well, they'll have information anyway.
 

cygrads

Well-Known Member
Jul 27, 2007
4,969
2,727
113
Altoona, IA
Isn't the decision June 15th?

They may have enough information by then by these previous openings to determine things like that.

Well, they'll have information anyway.
I think on the state fair website they said they need 60 - 70 days to prepare so that would be early to mid June - so that's a go/no-go due date.
 

qwerty

Well-Known Member
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SuperFanatic T2
Apr 3, 2020
6,148
8,666
113
59
Muscatine, IA
Wal-Mart supposedly restricts one person per 200 sq ft. The fairgrounds are 313 acres or 13,634,280 sq ft. At one person per 200 sq ft, that caps attendance at 68,171 or about 64% of normal. The fair averaged 106,000 per day last year.
 

madguy30

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2011
50,140
46,953
113
DeWine trusted Ohioans too, until last Friday and Saturday night when all hell broke loose at Bar patios in CBus and Cleveland. So the trust lasted about 36 hours.

Psshhhh, I think WI barflies were posting on Insta-twit T-minus 40 minutes after the Safer at Home order was cut. #saferincrowds
 

dahliaclone

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 4, 2007
13,713
20,305
113
Minneapolis
Minnesota has an announcement on our state fair tomorrow. The Star Tribune has a poll open on whether it should happen or not. I assumed there would be an overwhelming 'yes it should in some capacity' type response. Not the case. 70% think it shouldn't happen, 20% think it should, and 10% think it's too early to decide.
 

VeloClone

Well-Known Member
Jan 19, 2010
45,724
35,085
113
Brooklyn Park, MN
Wal-Mart supposedly restricts one person per 200 sq ft. The fairgrounds are 313 acres or 13,634,280 sq ft. At one person per 200 sq ft, that caps attendance at 68,171 or about 64% of normal. The fair averaged 106,000 per day last year.
Probably 10% or more of that space is not for attendee use - animal pens/show areas, storage and maintenance areas, offices, etc.
 

CloneJD

Well-Known Member
May 14, 2020
1,134
1,852
113
Reynolds didn't pull back on her school start date statements so we could NOT have a fair. I'm convinced it will happen in some format.
 
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BCClone

Well Seen Member.
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SuperFanatic T2
Sep 4, 2011
61,754
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Not exactly sure.
Lol, they are failing miserably then.


How many people go to the fair by themselves?? If you need 36sq ft per person, you would have room, but it would be one crazy dance with people moving around, would need people standing on tractors and displays also to get each square foot. The other part would be some places have multiple levels so if a building has two floors that would double the squre feet of that space.