OC Fair & Event Center

What OC Fair & Event Center does

OC Fair & Event Center is a multi-use California state fairgrounds operating as the 32nd District Agricultural Association, with statutory authority derived from the California Food and Agricultural Code. The organization runs a 130-acre Costa Mesa campus anchored by four distinct asset clusters: live entertainment (Pacific Amphitheatre concert venue, The Hangar indoor venue, Action Sports Arena), agricultural and equestrian education (Centennial Farm three-acre working farm, The Ranch Community Center seven-and-a-half-acre equestrian facility), cultural programming (Heroes Hall veterans museum, Imaginology STEAM event), and event-rental infrastructure (157,000+ square feet across 24+ indoor and outdoor venues, 9 parking lots, on-site RV camping). Customer-facing monetization is split across admission tickets (general admission $9-$15, Every Day Passport $60, ride bundles and family bundles), venue rentals ($1,100-$9,500 per booking area), food and beverage concessions operated under an outsourced contract with OVG Hospitality, on-site camping ($45/night), and corporate sponsorships (Pepsi as title partner, plus a Platinum Partner program).

The business is event-driven and seasonal by design: a 23-day OC Fair in July-August welcomes 1M+ guests, supplemented by 150+ year-round events that fill utilization outside the annual fair window. Distribution is direct-to-consumer for ticketing (website, etix.com, Pacific Amphitheatre box office, RCS Fun Pass app) and direct-sales-led for venue rentals and sponsorships. The organization reports approximately $300M in regional economic impact and ~$100M in fair-related labor income, with a stated footprint equivalent to 2,500 jobs across Orange County. Marketing is multi-channel: organic social (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube), email newsletters segmented by sub-brand, PR/media relations, and hotel partnerships with Crowne Plaza Costa Mesa and Hotel Zessa/DoubleTree.

Governance is state-led: a Governor-appointed Board of Directors (currently chaired by Barbara Bagneris) provides oversight, while operational leadership sits with a four-CXO team including CEO James Canfield (appointed June 2025), COO Michael Searle (formerly Deputy Director of Arizona State Fair), CAO Melissa Au-Yeung (appointed January 2023, ex-Deputy City Manager), and CBDO Michele Capps (ex-Cedar Fair West Coast marketing). The organization is not a private enterprise and is not investable in the traditional PE/VC sense; it is included here as a strategic-intelligence reference for the live-events and venue-management sector.

Name

OC Fair & Event Center

Legal name

32nd District Agricultural Association

Website

https://ocfair.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

OC Fair & Event Center is a California state-operated multi-use fairgrounds in Costa Mesa hosting an annual 23-day fair, year-round concerts, agricultural and veterans education, and venue rentals across 130 acres, serving more than 1 million annual guests.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Venue Operations and Fairground Services

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Racetracks (711212)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Fairgrounds & Expo Parks (THAHAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Festival Grounds & Fairgrounds Operations (MPAGALAH), Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE), Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA), Festival & Event Producers/Organizers (MPAIAFAC), Family, Kids & Education Fairs (MPAGAFAH)

Keywords

• Event venue operations
• Fairground entertainment services
• Venue rental services
• Agricultural education programs
• Live event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Costa Mesa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Tickets and Admission: Revenue from OC Fair admission tickets ($9-$15 for general admission, $60 Every Day Passport), entertainment tickets for Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar, and Action Sports Arena shows, and carnival ride/game tickets
2. Venue Rentals: Rental income from 24+ indoor and outdoor venue spaces ranging from exhibit halls ($2,500-$4,900) to meeting areas and outdoor fields. Contact sales team for bookings.
3. Food and Beverage Concessions: OVG Hospitality operates food concessions and catering services across the fairgrounds. Revenue from vendor food sales, catering events, and concessions during events.
4. On-site Camping: RV camping at $45 per night for individual campers (includes 20 amp electrical, water, sewage) with $70 surcharge for additional amperage. Trailer rally rates available for groups of 10+ RVs.
5. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships including title sponsors like Pepsi. Platinum Partner program for vendors at the OC Fair.
6. Millennium Barn Rental: The Millennium Barn at Centennial Farm is available for rental events Monday-Friday 1-4 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

OC Fair & Event Center operates a 130-acre, 157,000-square-foot multi-use event complex in Costa Mesa, California, hosting the annual 23-day OC Fair and 150+ year-round events. The organization sells general admission tickets, concert and entertainment tickets, venue rentals to corporate and private clients, on-site RV camping, and a weekly farmers market, while also operating year-round educational facilities including a working farm, veterans museum, and equestrian center. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, venue rental fees, concessions via partner OVG Hospitality, and corporate sponsorships such as the title partnership with Pepsi.

Product overview

OC Fair & Event Center is a multi-use California state fairgrounds and event venue operating as the 32nd District Agricultural Association. The core offering is the annual 23-day OC Fair (July–August), supported by permanent venues including Pacific Amphitheatre (concert), The Hangar (indoor entertainment), and Action Sports Arena (motorsports). Year-round educational and community facilities include Centennial Farm (three-acre working farm), Heroes Hall (veterans museum), The Ranch Community Center (equestrian facility), and Imaginology (STEAM education event). Revenue-generating services span venue rentals, food and beverage (via OVG Hospitality), on-site RV camping, farmers markets, and ticketed entertainment. The facility spans 150 acres with 157,000 square feet of event space and hosts over 150 year-round events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OC Fair: Annual 23-day fair event held in July-August, one of Orange County's most anticipated annual events welcoming over 1 million guests.
• Pacific Amphitheatre
• Centennial Farm
• Heroes Hall
• The Ranch Community Center
• Imaginology

Products and services

• OC Fair
• Pacific Amphitheatre
• The Hangar
• Action Sports Arena
• Centennial Farm
• The Ranch Community Center
• Heroes Hall
• Imaginology
• Venue Rentals
• OVG Hospitality Food & Beverage
• Farmers Market
• On-site Camping
• OC Fair Fun Run (5K)

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual economic impact of ~$300 million to Orange County and California economies
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OVG HospitalitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOVG Hospitality is the food service contractor for OC Fair & Event Center, operating concessions across the fairgrounds. They provide catering services for events and manage food and beverage operations at venues including Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar, and throughout the event center. Contact: (714) 708-1880.
• PepsiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPepsi is the proud sponsor of OC Fair & Event Center, visible on site signage and promotional materials.
• OC MENA FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree-day cultural festival celebrating Middle Eastern and North African culture, hosted at OC Fair & Event Center.
• Imaginology Sponsors (Raising Cane's, T-Mobile, OCASA, AoPS, Aquatots, Camp Galileo, ThinkAcademy, Pedalheads)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious sponsors supporting the free STEAM education event Imaginology, including Raising Cane's, T-Mobile, OCASA, Art of Problem Solving, Aquatots, Camp Galileo, ThinkAcademy, and Pedalheads.
• Dairy Council of CaliforniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAwarded $5,000 community grant to Centennial Farm through Let's Eat Healthy initiative to support educational programs focused on dairy, nutrition, and agriculture, reaching over 5,000 students.
• Crowne Plaza Costa MesaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred hotel partner for OC Fair & Event Center campers and visitors.
• Hotel Zessa Orange County Airport (DoubleTree by Hilton)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred hotel partner for OC Fair & Event Center visitors staying in Orange County.
• OVG Hospitality CateringcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides imaginative menus, exceptional value, and specialized service for special events at OC Fair & Event Center.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Arizona State Fair: State-level annual fair and multi-use fairground operated by the Arizona Exposition & State Fair. Closest peer by governance type — outgoing COO Michael Searle was previously Deputy Director here. Comparable scale of annual fair and venue rental business.
• Ventura County Fairgrounds (31st DAA): Another California district agricultural association in Ventura County operating a county fair and year-round event facility — direct peer on governance structure, annual fair event, venue rentals, and entertainment programming in Southern California.
• National Western Center: Denver's year-round livestock, equestrian, and event complex operated by a public-benefit authority. Comparable on the integrated farm/equestrian/event campus model that OC Fair's Centennial Farm + The Ranch + Heroes Hall + venues uniquely combine.
• Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex: Multi-venue convention/sports/entertainment complex in Birmingham, AL — direct comparable profile (arena + amphitheater + exhibit halls), recently underwent the major capital transformation led by incoming OC Fair CEO James Canfield. Benchmark for transformation playbook.
• Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center: Indiana's state fair complex operated as a year-round event and expo facility with annual Indiana State Fair. Direct peer on state-fair model, multi-use venue (coliseum, expo hall, agri campus), and event-driven revenue mix.
• Cal Expo (California State Fair): California State Fair & Exposition Center in Sacramento — the only other state-level district agricultural association fairground in California. Direct peer in governance structure, scope of venues, and California state agricultural mandate.
• Fairplex (LA County Fair): Operator of the LA County Fair in Pomona, CA — also a California district agricultural association-style fairground with multi-use event space and the largest county fair in North America. Direct functional peer with overlapping fair business, venue rentals, and year-round event programming.
• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo: One of the largest annual fairs/rodeos in the world, operating NRG Park complex in Houston with multi-venue year-round event utilization. Comparable on annual fair scale (1M+ attendance), livestock/agri programming, and concert venue operations (NRG Stadium).
• Del Mar Fairgrounds (22nd DAA): Operator of the San Diego County Fair and year-round event venue in Del Mar, CA — directly comparable district agricultural association model with a coastal premium fair, equestrian/sports focus, and active venue rental business.

Regional players

• Anaheim Convention Center: Major Orange County venue competitor for conventions, trade shows, and corporate events. Closest regional competitor for OC Fair's venue rental business — captures much of the same corporate and event organizer buyer base in Orange County.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/OCFair
• Facebookfacebook.com/OCFair
• Instagraminstagram.com/oc_fair
• TikToktiktok.com/@oc_fair?lang=en
• Xx.com/ocfair

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OC Fair & Event Center