New fans will help Roane State Expo Center attract new events
Five fans that are 18 feet in diameter have been put in place over the arena floor, while two additional fans 14 feet in diameter are overhead both in the seating area and the livestock holding area. The state Department of Agriculture and the state Department of Tourism partnered to award a $75,000 grant to Roane County to support the $99,000 project. Roane State provided matching funds for the remaining portion.
“The Expo Center is a key component of tourism in Roane County,” state Sen. Ken Yager said. “This grant supported a project that will greatly enhance an already excellent facility and improve the county’s ability to attract events and visitors.”
Installation was completed in mid-July. Officials hope the improvements will help lure horse and livestock shows and other events to the facility, commonly known as the Expo Center.
In the past, exhaust fans on the east end of the 72,000-square-foot arena building drew outside air in through louvers on the west end, and exhausted it through the fans. That setup did little to offset steamy summertime conditions.
Several events formerly booked for the Expo Center opted to go instead to other arenas in the area that have installed fans, Expo Center Director Stan Starkey said.
“By putting in these fans, we’re hoping we can attract some of these shows back to our arena, as well as attract some new events in the summer months,” he said.
However, since arenas are often reserved months and even years in advance, it will likely take a little while to refill all of the currently open dates on the event calendar, Starkey said.
He said the $99,000 project is “a very small piece” of the third stage of improvements to the facility, located next to the college’s main campus
This fiscal year an additional state appropriation of $300,000 has been made that will enable the addition of a badly needed cover over the outside livestock holding pens on the east end of the main arena, as well as possibly adding more permanent seating in the arena itself.
Additional improvements needed – on hold pending the availability of more funds – include completing the grandstand area with more permanent seating, and building covered walkways from the existing 300-stall barn to the arena areas. Roane State officials said once that work is finished, the Expo Center “will be one of the finest facilities of its kind in the country.”
The Henry/Stafford East Tennessee Agricultural Exposition Center opened in May 1990 and is named for Jim Henry and the late Benny Stafford. At that time, they were Tennessee General Assembly members from Roane and Loudon counties, respectively, who were instrumental in obtaining funding for the project. Henry is currently the deputy to Gov. Bill Haslam.
“I am thrilled to see the continued investment in the Expo Center,” Henry said. “It’s a wonderful venue that strengthens Roane County’s economy and enhances quality of life.”