SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Sonoma County supervisors will consider renewing the county's fairgrounds agreement for only one year today, giving officials time to confront financial struggles and decide how the property should operate in the future.
County Executive David Guhin recommended extending the agreement with Sonoma County Fair and Exposition Inc. through Sept. 30, 2027. The current five-year agreement expires at the end of this month.
The one-year agreement would allow Sonoma County Fair and Exposition Inc. to continue producing the annual county fair and managing the fairgrounds. The county has contracted with the organization under similar terms since 1955.
Guhin and Assistant County Administrator Andrew Sturmfels said the county should avoid a longer renewal while the fairgrounds face financial and operating challenges.
Horse racing, which ran at the fairgrounds for nearly 90 years, ended after the 2024 season. A steep decline in Northern California's horse population followed the permanent closure of Golden Gate Fields and the elimination of stabling at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.
Without a local racing circuit, many horse owners, trainers, and support workers moved out of state or to Southern California. Those departures made racing financially and operationally unworkable at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.
Horse racing had attracted fair visitors and generated money through admission fees, parking, concessions, food and beverage sales, and sponsorships. Its loss reduced revenue and forced the fair organization to consider new income sources, operating efficiencies, and programming.
The proposed one-year agreement would give the county and fair organization time to address those challenges, plan the property's future, and negotiate a longer agreement. It would not change the fair organization's current responsibilities.
The county and fair organization also plan to combine several existing contracts into one updated agreement. Separate contracts currently cover fair and fairgrounds operations, the Veterans Memorial Building, the building's parking area, and Verizon's lease for a communications facility.
Sonoma County and Santa Rosa are exploring the fairgrounds as the potential site of a multipurpose stadium for a future United Soccer League team.
The county and city have entered exclusive negotiations with the league that expire Thursday. The fairgrounds is one of several potential stadium locations, and officials are awaiting the selection of an ownership partner before evaluating their next steps.
The proposed stadium would use the former horse racing area. The Board of Supervisors would review any resulting agreement or development proposal.
If the soccer negotiations end without an agreement, the county could seek other proposals for the horse track area.
The Pioneer Baseball League has separately expressed interest in constructing a baseball facility near the Jockey Club. Supervisors also would review any baseball agreement or development proposal.
County and fair employees plan to examine the entire fairgrounds, including future land uses, building improvements, and long-term operating strategies. They expect to return to supervisors in 2027 with a proposed successor agreement and recommendations for the property.
The county could face costs when it uses the fairgrounds for emergency response operations. Those costs could include the fair organization's operating and staffing expenses, although Cal OES or FEMA may reimburse eligible expenses.
The proposal appears on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors' consent calendar, which allows the board to approve it with other routine items in a single vote.
Meeting details: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors meets at 9 a.m. today in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 575 Administration Drive, and online.
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