Sandhills Global Event Center

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The Sandhills Global Event Center, known as the Lancaster Event Center until December 2023, is a public non-profit fairgrounds-style event complex located in Lincoln, Nebraska owned and operated by the Lancaster County Agricultural Society. It was originally built to provide a permanent home for the Lancaster County Fair and other community events.

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It has hosted farm shows, trade shows, tractor pulls, swap meets, 4-H club meetings, Lincoln City Libraries book sales, and rodeos.

All buildings are multi-use, with no fixed seating, for people and animal events by converting dirt arenas to carpeted space each winter when all buildings are used year-round for over 320 events. In 2014, it held over 270 events with approximately 558,765 people attending. [1] Two hundred campsites with electric and multiple asphalt parking lots have been phased in over the years as well.

History

The Lancaster County Agricultural Society, which manages the Lancaster Event Center, was founded in 1867 as the Lancaster County Agricultural & Horticultural Society [2] and re-formed as the Lancaster County Agricultural Society in 1870 as a separate, county-level subdivision under Nebraska law to help promote agriculture.

The Lancaster County Board supported the original two sets of bonds to build out the Lancaster Event Center's first two phases, and encouraged the Lancaster County Ag Society to keep the fairgrounds open for events year-round.

Phase 1 (2001)

In 2001, the fairgrounds opened the first of three planned phases with an initial price tag of $12 million:

Phase 2 (2009)

Phase 2 in 2009 brought two additional buildings with a $10 million expansion:

Phase 2.5 (2014)

In 2014, the Lancaster County Ag Society hired a new Managing Director, Amy Dickerson. [5] In 2015, the Lancaster Event Center began a multi-year relaunch of its operations and completed $2.7 million in remodeling/upgrades with proceeds from re-financing its remaining Phase 2 bonds which saved tax payers approx. $700,000 in interest over the life of the bonds. These projects were overseen by the Lancaster County Fairgrounds Joint Public Agency (JPA) which consists of members from the Lancaster County Agricultural Society and the Lancaster County Board.

This relaunch was known as Phase 2.5, and major improvements included:

In summer 2020, the center hosted the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) and the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) International Convention and RV Expo. [6]

2017–2023

Starting in 2017, the Lancaster Event Center began grounds improvements set to open July 2020 to add:

These improvements were funded by $7 million in lodging visitor tax grants in large part with cost-effective self-perform labor by the Lancaster Event Center staff.

These grounds improvements on the undeveloped east side of the fairgrounds were designed initially to attract the National High School Finals Rodeo to Lincoln, Nebraska after a decade in two Wyoming facilities. Lancaster Event Center was chosen in April 2017 to host the National High School Finals Rodeo in July 2020 & 2021 and in a subsequent bid process in January 2019 a return visit in July 2026 & 2027 was awarded as well. [7]

Late in 2019, the FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) International Convention & RV Expo in August 2020 chose to bring their annual convention to Lincoln bringing over $8–12 million of economic impact after a location in Syracuse, New York fell through at the last minute. [8]

Rebranding to Sandhills Global Event Center (2023)

In December 2023, the Lancaster Event Center was renamed the Sandhills Global Event Center, as the result of a $7.125 million sale of naming rights to Sandhills Global for 15 years. [9]

Lancaster County Fair

The Lancaster Event Center fairgrounds opened on February 1, 2001 and is the home of the Lancaster County Fair which became known as the Lancaster County Super Fair when extended to 10 days in 2010 upon the departure of the State Fair to Grand Island. It celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2020.

Economic impact

In 2018, the University of Nebraska Bureau of Business Research completed an economic impact study showing outside of county visitors to Lancaster Event Center events brought nearly $40 million in annual impact. [10] [11]

Awards

The Sandhills Global Event Center has been recognized both locally and regionally:

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References

  1. ↑ Jordan Pascale (May 4, 2012). "Lancaster Event Center seeks $44 million expansion, upgrades". Lincoln Journal-Star. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Lancaster County Agricultural and Horticultural Society Records, 1877-1879". LancasterHistory. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  3. ↑ Jean Ortiz (September 3, 2007). "Lancaster Event Center expansion plans advance". Lincoln Journal-Star . Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  4. ↑ Jordan Pascale (November 17, 2013). "Officials ponder future of Lancaster Event Center". Lincoln Journal-Star. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  5. ↑ Reist, Margaret. "New manager digs in to grow Event Center; more projects planned". JournalStar.com. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  6. ↑ Olberding, Matt. "National RV event coming to Lancaster Event Center in 2020". JournalStar.com. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  7. ↑ Release, Press. "National High School Finals Rodeo to return to Lincoln in 2026, 2027". www.1011now.com. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  8. ↑ Johnson, Riley. "Year out from rodeo, improvements full steam ahead at Event Center: 'Lincoln's never done anything like this'". JournalStar.com. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Lancaster Event Center officially becomes Sandhills Global Event Center". Lincoln, Nebraska: KOLN. December 2, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  10. ↑ Hicks, Nancy. "Lancaster Event Center has $40 million economic impact annually, report finds". JournalStar.com. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  11. ↑ Samuel, Tammy. "Lancaster Event Center". lancastereventcenter.org. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  12. ↑ "2018 Nebraska Tourism Industry Award winners announced". VisitNebraska.com. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  13. ↑ "2018 Business Award Winners • Strictly Business Magazine | Lincoln". Strictly Business Magazine | Lincoln. October 2, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  14. ↑ "2018 Inspire Awards Finalists and Winners". Issuu. Retrieved February 16, 2020.

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