[idw2s]

Whaaaaat??????

Michigan State Fair - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Although I have to say, isn't Detroit a kind of poor place to locate the State Fair, given where all the agricultural land is???? No offense meant, Detroit, but agriculture is kind of the point of State Fairs....

But seriously? Anyone want to guess at what the economic impact of the loss of the State Fair might have been?

Any chance in heck it might come back?

No State Fair... nobody told me that.

It's the definition of buy local.... Why?????

[Retroit]

I wonder if I could convince a computer manufacturer to make an "Ain't got no money" key that I could press every time someone asks why the government is discontinuing some program?

[ram2]

Is the U.P state fair still happening up in Escanaba?

[idw2s]

Originally Posted by Retroit

I wonder if I could convince a computer manufacturer to make an "Ain't got no money" key that I could press every time someone asks why the government is discontinuing some program?

Well, it could very well be that the State Fair cost more than it generated. Or it could be like the Pure Michigan campaign that generated more revenue than it cost, in which case, can we afford to do without it?

You old-timer Michiganders will have to answer that, I'm genuinely too new to know....

But knowing what I know of other state fairs, I find it hard to believe that's the case....

[magellan]

Originally Posted by idw2s

Whaaaaat??????

Michigan State Fair - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Although I have to say, isn't Detroit a kind of poor place to locate the State Fair, given where all the agricultural land is???? No offense meant, Detroit, but agriculture is kind of the point of State Fairs....

But seriously? Anyone want to guess at what the economic impact of the loss of the State Fair might have been?

Any chance in heck it might come back?

No State Fair... nobody told me that.

It's the definition of buy local.... Why?????

I totally disagree that State Fairs (or any fairs) are the definition of buy local. The big attractions and money makers of them is the midway, run by out-of-state companies. The trinket vendors are mostly from out-of-state. What else is there to buy local?

[Retroit]

...the fair had been running deficits and needed $360,000 from the state in 2008 to cover losses. Fewer than 220,000 people passed through last year. At its peak in 1966, the fair drew 1 million. End of an era: No Michigan State Fair after 160-year run | MLive.com

As for Pure Michigan, the justification is that it brings in tourists from other states (which the State Fair doesn't). I find the claim dubious, however, as there is no way of knowing whether people are coming here because of a commercial or for other reasons.

[danielj72]

Michigan does need a new state fairgrounds, and a renewed state fair. Somewhere outside of Lansing seems logical to me as that is the state capitol. Detroit was never a good place for it, even before the city became what it is today. The state fair showcases Michigans agricultural products, and for that reason the fair should be closer to the agriculture. For a large midwestern state like Michigan not to have a state fair is almost unreal. I bet we are the only state in the midwest to not have one.

[Trail twister]

Last I knew the UPPER still had the UP state fair in Escanaba. Escanaba also host the UPPER Michigan antique tractor & steam show on Labor Day week end.
I don't see a State fair needed in the lower unless it is more Central located in Michigan. Why should the people from Midland, Clare and Mt Pleasant north have to drive many hours south to attend a state fair Not to mention the Western side of the state.

Went to the state fair in Detroit once when I was very young with my folks. After a day of fun we returned to a car with a broken window small things stolen from inside and a missing battery. My folks wouldn't go any where near Detroit after that.

Our fair experinces after that were the Saginaw county fair. My mom would fry up some chicken of Saturday and fix orther picnic goodies to take on a Sunday. Last time I went to that one was 1988 was still a real nice experince.
Antique tractor & steam shows took most ofour week ends after that.

[Coldjensens]

State fair went broke. Could not afford to maintain the property let alone continue to fund the event. No idea whether that was in part of entirely due to corruption and graft, however at that time, it is unlikely that anything in Detroit was not losing a major percentage of their funds to corruption and graft.

If there is ever a state fair again, it will probably not be at what is left of the fairgrounds In Detroit. If it maintains its farming character, it would make more sense someplace like Fowlerville, where they still have farms and things, but it is within range of the population center of Metro Detroit.

[Dave Wojo]

What a depressing thread.

After fifteen years of living in Ohio and enjoying the Ohio State Fair, it's very disappointing to learn that Michigan no longer has its State Fair. It's especially depressing if it is true that it is a casualty of greed an corruption.

A state fair is just something I learned to take for granted. Well, not any more.