The Utah State Fairpark has hired an architectural firm to prepare criteria by which contractors can submit proposals for a new sports/multipurpose center at the 65-acre site.
Steve Ehninger, president of EFT Architects Inc., Salt Lake City, met with the public, nonprofit corporation's Fairpark Board Tuesday and presented information gathered from representatives of sports, concert, trade show and other groups who might rent the facility.The board also heard a report on a recent visit by Fairpark director Donna Dahl, board members Richard Prows and Paul McPherson and Utah State Fair coordinator Judy Duncombe to a similar facility at the Sacramento State Fair. The 100,000-square-foot facility in Sacramento is constructed of metal.
"The building is more attractive than I anticipated. It has been up for about five or six years. (Among other things), we wanted to see how they set up for their fair," Dahl said after the board meeting.
Construction of a sports/multipurpose facility was approved by the 2000 Legislature in SB235, a bill that authorizes $10.5 million in revenue bonding to help pay for the facility. A Chicago firm, Economics Research Associates, has recommended construction of these and other facilities at the Fairpark as a way of helping the corporation to eventually become self-sufficient and no longer dependent on state funds.
The Utah Office of Planning and Budget will conduct a study on whether rental of the sports/multipurpose center would generate sufficient revenue to pay off the bonds, as the Chicago firm predicted. Todd Hauber of the planning and budget office met with the Fairpark Board on plans for the study. If that study shows the facility can generate sufficient revenue, the State Building Board is expected to issue a request for proposals to construct a 140,000- to 180,000-square-foot building.
Hauber said Wednesday that a request for proposals to conduct an economic feasibility study was issued May 11 by the planning and budget office. The deadline for submission of proposals is May 30. The firm selected to make the study might be able to complete its work by the end of the summer, he said.
"We hope that the study shows there is a need for a facility of this type in Salt Lake City. The state doesn't want to have to subsidize the building," he said.
Fairpark officials hope construction can begin after this year's State Fair concludes Sept. 17 and that the building can be completed by late 2001. As now contemplated, the building would be constructed where the grandstand is currently located. The grandstand would be relocated elsewhere at the Fairpark.
E-mail: palmer@desnews.com