California Exposition and State Fair would like to say thank you to all of our loyal State Fair attendees, soccer fans, concert addicts, festival fanatics, horse racing enthusiasts, water park lovers, RV park guests, foodies, wine and cheese aficionados and the patrons of our numerous large-scale events for your continued support for Cal Expo.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially difficult for us financially at Cal Expo as it has for many others in California and the Country. Since we had to cancel the 2020 California State Fair, we have dedicated our energies to assisting the community, County, and City of Sacramento as well as the State with efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Our main efforts involve offering our grounds for the drive-through testing facility and an isolation trailer facility and hosting much-needed blood drives and food drives to support the local community.
In our current situation without significant revenue or assistance from the State, Cal Expo may not have the funds to hold a State Fair in 2021. We ask for your support to help keep the tradition alive and allow Cal Expo to continue providing emergency services, entertainment, and support for businesses into the future. #SaveCalExpo and #SaveCAStateFair. Please take care of yourself and stay safe. We have and always will be #morethanafair.
“For decades Cal Expo has been a key economic engine for the Sacramento region. Hosting thousands of events, concerts, professional sports, and businesses – and generating more than 2 million patrons each year. In 2019, Cal Expo was recognized as the Business Partner of the Year by the Sacramento Hotel Association.”
-Mike Testa
President & CEO
Visit Sacramento
Over the last few years, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services along with the American Red Cross has staged a regional emergency evacuation and recovery support center at Cal Expo.
Our grounds were utilized during the recent Napa/Sonoma Fires and the Oroville Dam evacuations. Cal Expo is also part of the State’s “Continuity of Governance” plan and if an evacuation of the Capitol were to happen, we will be the emergency seat of State government.
“Cal Expo has always been there for us, usually when wildfires happen during the summer when it is very hot – and being able to have that air-conditioned space where we can put people up is – just critical… The other options we have to use are not always available to open themselves up like Cal Expo can – to make the space available immediately – there is just no other facility like Cal Expo.”
-Gary Strong
Regional CEO
American Red Cross – Gold Country Region
American Red Cross emergency response vehicles at Cal Expo
Sacramento County Dept. of Health COVID-19 testing
Currently, Cal Expo is serving as a regional COVID-19 drive through testing facility and is housing an isolation trailer facility.
In addition to these efforts, we have hosted blood drives with Vitalant as adequate blood supply is imperative during a pandemic and hosted food and school supply drives as well for our local community non-profits.
“Cal Expo’s partnership with Sacramento County Public Health during our COVID-19 response has been invaluable. Their spacious facility, unique grounds, and gracious staff have made our drive-thru COVID-19 testing site an immense success and enabled us to provide over 29,000 COVID-19 tests to the Sacramento community.”
-Olivia Kasirye, MD, MS
Public Health Officer
Sacramento County Public Health
In order to expand our self-generated revenue Cal Expo has looked to collaborate with a number of businesses, large and small, to improve our fairgrounds and the opportunities within the community.
Sacramento Republic FC celebrates a win at Heart Health Park
“Cal Expo has provided Republic FC with so much more than a place to play soccer. It is truly our home – a place where we have grown our club and our fans, and we all come together for memorable nights each year. Having a partner with the vast scale and expertise of Cal Expo has enabled us to establish a club that our entire community can be proud of.”
-Ben Gumpert
President & COO
Sacramento Republic FC
International Sportsmen’s Expo – a 33 year tradition
Outside of the award-winning California State Fair, Cal Expo plays host to hundreds of large and small-scale events for enthusiasts of all kinds. An example of these events is the Home and Garden Shows, International Sportsmen’s Expo, Concerts and Dances, and Boat and RV Shows.
“For more than 30 years, Cal Expo has been the home to the International Sportsmen’s Exposition. ISE generates millions of dollars in taxable sales each year at Cal Expo and brings more than 900 vendors and their staff into local hotels. Cal Expo’s event staff and services are professional, yet friendly and great to work with. The facility is ideal for large public shows with multiple design options and floor plans for both indoor and outdoor spaces. We look forward to many more decades of producing the ISE at Cal Expo.”
-Brian Layng
President & CEO
International Sportsmen’s Exposition
“Cal Expo is the California home to Standardbred (harness) racing. The facilities and racing surface are one of the best and absolute safest in the country. Our company Watch and Wager LLC is in its ninth year of operation at Cal Expo. Our industry provides over 300 jobs right here in Sacramento, and approximately another 200 throughout the California statewide simulcast network. Without Cal Expo, our industry could not exist in California.”
-Christopher Schick
Golden Bear Racing LLC
2019 Out at the Fair Group Photo
The California Exposition and State Fair is an economic engine generating tangible benefits beyond the educational, cultural, and agricultural tradition.
Cal Expo generated $144,891,000 million in spending activity in 2012 and created the equivalent of 957 jobs as a result.
Cal Expo also generates business tax revenue through the collection of state and local sales taxes, transient occupancy taxes, possessory interest taxes, and other taxes and fees and these revenues further generate economic activity by providing for programs that benefit the community.
“During the State Fair, Spectra Foodservice hires and manages a staff of over 350 eager individuals and non-profit groups. We also contract with over 50 small locally owned Specialty Food Vendors. Most importantly we work directly with the FFA and 4H to help in Ag Education. It is very important that the State Fair continues to educate our youth about Agriculture and our healthy food supply chain in California. Without this educational component, our youth and the state at large will be hindered in the path for the future of California.”
-Nick Nicora
Co-Founder and Regional Vice President
Spectra Foodservice
Cal Expo & State Fair’s Farm, a year-round agriculture education center, is host to thousands of school kids throughout the year, connecting children to farming in a way they have never seen before. Our agricultural and livestock programs reach youth from all over the state through our competitions and scholarship programs.
This is the CA State Fair Farm connecting agriculture to the community
