OC Fair & Event Center Celebrates the Best Year in Its 121-Year History
OC Fair Ends 2011 With Record-Breaking Milestones
Costa Mesa, Calif. (December 13, 2011) – 2011 has been a record-breaking year for the OC Fair & Event Center (OCFEC). In addition to banner Fair attendance of more than 1.4 million (up 21 percent over 2010), the OC Fair was ranked the 7th Largest Fair in North America (up from No. 9 in 2010) by CarnivalWarehouse.com (an online source for news and facts about the fair industry); received the Los Angeles Times Reader’s Choice No. 1 Fair/Festival in Southern California; and had the Pacific Amphitheatre ranked the No. 1 venue in North America for its size for the mid-summer period two years in a row by Venues Today.
Also in 2011, the OC Fair held the inaugural “A Fair to Remember: A Celebration of Our Children,” which welcomed more than 7,000 local foster families to the OC Fair to enjoy a free night at the Fair.
Other 2011 milestones include:
Negotiated a 10-year carnival contract with Ray Cammack Shows (RCS)
Negotiated a 6-year food service contract with master concessionaire Ovations Fanfare
Negotiated a 5-year rental agreement with OC Marathon
Entered into exclusive negotiations for a 5-year rental agreement with Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car AuctionsTM
Re-established the partnership with long-term OC Marketplace operator, Tel-Phil Enterprises
Net income exceeded budget by approximately $4 million
Began work on $9 million worth of capital improvements which are funded solely from profits generated by OCFEC and include renovations of the Main Mall and Pacific Amphitheatre
Embarked on a Community Outreach program which includes a public blog titled “Fairing Well” and planned community open houses
The impending sale of the OC Fair & Event Center was officially cancelled by the State
“It has been a banner year for the OC Fair & Event Center and 2012 is looking to be even more dynamic. From our new long-term contracts, relationships, improvements and endeavors, we look forward to providing an even better guest experience and, of course, none of this was possible without the cancellation of the sale of the property. We have a lot to celebrate,” said Joyce Tucker, Board Chair, OC Fair & Event Center.
The OC Fair & Event Center is located off the 405 and 55 freeways at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. For more information, please visit ocfair.com, become a fan on Facebook.com/OCFair, follow us at Twitter.com/ocfair or call (714) 708-1500.