OC Fair Board chooses new leadership, receives final financial results of 2018 Fair
COSTA MESA (Oct. 26, 2018) – The OC Fair Board of Directors has chosen Robert Ruiz as its new chairperson and Sandra Cervantes as vice chair. Ruiz, secretary-treasurer at Laborers Local 652, has been on the board since 2014. He replaces outgoing chairperson Barbara Bagneris who remains on the board as a director.
Cervantes has also served on the board since 2014 and replaces Ruiz as vice chair. She owns Miniondas Newspaper and Cervantes Real Estate. Ruiz and Cervantes assumed their new roles at the conclusion of the board meeting on Oct. 25 and will lead the next board meeting on Nov. 15.
Also at the board meeting, the staff presented the profit and loss statement for the 2018 OC Fair. Revenue totaled $35.7 million, an increase of nearly $1.2 million over 2017. OC Fair & Event Center Vice President of Finance Adam Carleton said that the largest revenue contributors were attractions (ticketed events) and concessions sales.
The 2018 OC Fair saw record-breaking attendance for the 23-day event, welcoming 1,470,636 guests, up 10% from 2017. A single-day attendance record was set on Saturday, July 28, when 86,334 fairgoers came out to enjoy the Free Your Inner Farmer theme.
“We were happy to make the fair more accessible to more people this year than ever before and to see our guests take advantage of our great promotions,” said OC Fair & Event Center CEO Kathy Kramer.
Income from the annual Fair funds the business of the OC Fair & Event Center and pays for education and community give-back programs such as Imaginology, Centennial Farm, Heroes Hall, farm tours and school field trips. Community programs such as Friends of the Fair and OC Fair Kids Club allow those with disabilities and children from underserved areas to attend the Fair at no cost.
The Fair also contributes to the community by adding jobs. This year 1,661 seasonal employees earned $4.1 million in wages and an additional 120 volunteers contributed 2,325 hours in support of the Fair.