What Arizona State Fair does

The Arizona State Fair is operated by the Arizona Exposition and State Fair Board, a state government entity of Arizona headquartered at 1826 W. McDowell Rd in Phoenix. The organization produces the annual Arizona State Fair, scheduled for October 1 through November 1, 2026 (Thursday through Sunday weekly), drawing over one million visitors per year. Programming spans the Coliseum Concert Series at the historic Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Grandstand Series rodeo events, variety entertainment (circus, hypnotists, strolling performers), animal exhibits including Kerr's Farm Tours, rides and games, fair food, and competitive agricultural entries. Beyond the seasonal fair, the organization operates year-round as a venue rental business, leasing nine specialized facilities including the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Grandstand Arena (85,000 sq. ft., capacity 4,000), Exhibit Building (50,000 sq. ft.), Agriculture Center (61,000 sq. ft.), Wesley Bolin Building, Hacienda De Mexico breezeway, Party Gras (historic 1917 venue, capacity 150), and The Backyard outdoor area to trade show producers, corporate clients, wedding and quinceañera planners, and community organizations.

The business model is a multi-stream event and venue operation. Consumer revenue is generated through general admission ticket sales (with a "Double the Wonder for $25" promotional price for two tickets, including taxes and fees), concert ticket upsells that bundle fair admission, food and merchandise concessions, and carnival rides and games. B2B revenue comes from direct venue rental bookings, competitive entry fees, and field trip programming. The marketing partnership layer includes presenting sponsorships from AZ Milk Producers, Desert Diamond Casino West Valley, Arizona Lottery, and Arizona Department of Public Safety. Ticketing is outsourced to Etix; the organization maintains a Fair Fandom email program for presale access and direct fan engagement; and calendar feeds are published to Google Calendar, iCalendar, and Outlook.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally lightweight: a WordPress website, Etix third-party ticketing, and standard iCal subscription exports. There is no proprietary software platform, no mobile app, no public API, and no disclosed AI or data capabilities. The organization employs 11-50 staff year-round with seasonal scaling for the October-November fair window. Founded in 1884, the Arizona State Fair has historically operated as a publicly funded state asset under transparent governance, with FY2020-FY2027 budgets published and Executive Director Dale Adams leading operations.

Name

Arizona State Fair

Legal name

Arizona Exposition and State Fair Board

Website

https://azstatefair.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event and Venue Services

NAICS

All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Festival Grounds & Fairgrounds Operations (MPAGALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA), Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO)

Keywords

• Annual state fair
• Event venue rental
• Live concert series
• Rodeo competitions
• Agricultural exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: General admission ticket sales to the annual Arizona State Fair event, with promotional pricing such as $25 for two tickets.
2. Venue Rental: Year-round rental of fairground venues including Agriculture Center, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Grandstand Arena, Exhibit Building, and other facilities for events, trade shows, and private functions.
3. Concessions and Vendor Fees: Revenue from food vendors, commercial vendors, and concessionaires operating during fair events.
4. Entertainment and Concert Revenue: Coliseum Concert Series featuring ticketed performances by artists such as Gin Blossoms, with fair admission included with concert tickets.
5. Sponsorship: Marketing partnerships and sponsorships with organizations including AZ Milk Producers, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Desert Diamond Casino West Valley, and Arizona Lottery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Arizona State Fair operates an annual fair held each October through November featuring concerts, rodeo, livestock shows, carnival rides, fair food, and competitive entries. The organization also operates a multi-venue fairground complex in Phoenix that is rented out year-round for trade shows, corporate events, weddings, auctions, and other private functions.

Product overview

The Arizona State Fair is a seasonal entertainment venue offering a single annual event with a diverse portfolio of attractions, entertainment, and experiences. The Fair operates as a venue rental operation for year-round events. The core product portfolio includes: the annual State Fair (October-November) featuring Coliseum Concert Series (live music performances at Veterans Memorial Coliseum), Grandstand Series (arena-style events), Variety Entertainment (circus, hypnotist shows, strolling performers), animal exhibits (Kerr's Farm Tours, poultry shows, rabbit/cavy shows, bird displays), fair food, rides and games, competitive entries (agricultural competitions, livestock shows), community entertainers, field trips, and the Fair Fandom newsletter program. Year-round venue rentals encompass multiple facilities including the Veterans Memorial Coliseum (23,320 sq. ft. arena floor), Grandstand Arena (85,000 sq. ft., capacity 4,000), Agriculture Center (61,000 sq. ft.), Exhibit Building (50,000 sq. ft.), Home Arts Center (13,584 sq. ft.), Wesley Bolin Building (19,344 sq. ft.), Hacienda De Mexico breezeway (12,546 sq. ft.), Party Gras (4,176 sq. ft., capacity 150), and The Backyard outdoor area. Ticketing is handled through external partner Etix.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Coliseum Concert Series: Concert series featuring live music performances at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum
• Grandstand Series
• Fair Fandom
• Veterans Memorial Coliseum
• Agriculture Center

Products and services

• Arizona State Fair (Annual Event) Annual Arizona State Fair event held October through November at the Phoenix fairgrounds, featuring live entertainment, concerts, rodeo competitions, animal exhibits, fair food, rides, games, and competitive agricultural entries for families and individuals.
• Coliseum Concert Series Concert series featuring live music performances inside the historic Veterans Memorial Coliseum, with artists performing under the lights; fair admission is included with concert tickets.
• Grandstand Series Arena-style events held at the Grandstand Arena, including rodeo competitions such as High School Rodeo and Native American Rodeo.
• Veterans Memorial Coliseum Venue Rental Venue rental for concerts and large-scale events at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Arena Floor: 220'x106' - 23,320 sq. ft. / North Hall: 288'x90' - 25,920 sq. ft. / South Hall: 306'x90' - 27,540 sq. ft.
• Grandstand Arena Venue Rental Arena venue rental for rodeo and other arena-style events. Dimensions: 500' x 210' - 85,000 sq. ft. Capacity: not to exceed 4,000.
• Exhibit Building Venue Rental Large exhibition facility rental ideal for trade and consumer shows. Dimensions: 100'x500'x14' - 50,000 sq. ft. Accommodates over 300 exhibition booths.
• Agriculture Center Venue Rental Two-building complex venue rental (Agriculture Building East and West) ideal for boxing events, auctions, trade shows, and meetings. Dimensions: 61,000 sq. ft. (Full) / 32,000 sq. ft. (East) / 29,000 sq. ft. (West).
• Wesley Bolin Building Venue Rental Event facility rental ideal for trade shows or exhibit events with a large open floor plan. Dimensions: 78' x 248' x 14' - 19,344 sq. ft.
• Party Gras Venue Rental Historic venue originally built in 1917 to showcase minerals. Ideal for weddings, quinceañeras, or meetings with vaulted beamed ceiling, giant skylights, and interior walk-around balcony. Capacity: 150. Dimensions: 4,176 sq. ft.
• Hacienda De Mexico Venue Rental Breezeway connecting Home Arts Building and Wesley Bolin Building. Airy-covered mall ideal for private events or seating area. Dimensions: 51'x246' - 12,546 sq. ft.
• The Backyard Venue Rental Outdoor area rental with trees and grass in the heart of the fairgrounds. Hosts different events hourly with live music and entertainment on the Wallace and Ladmo Stage.
• Kerr's Farm Tours Interactive farm experience allowing visitors to see baby cows, turkeys, sheep, goats, and chicks up close. Presented by AZ Milk Producers. Located at the Agriculture Center.
• Field Trips Educational field trip experiences for school groups visiting the fair.
• Read & Ride Program Program encouraging children to read and earn free fair admission tickets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Draws over 1 million visitors annually

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EtixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary ticketing partner and platform provider for online ticket sales for Arizona State Fair events and concerts.
• AZ Milk ProducerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Kerr's Farm Tours attraction, supporting agricultural education experiences at the fair.
• Arizona Department of Public SafetycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for High School Rodeo event, supporting youth rodeo programs and statewide recognition for the sport of rodeo.
• Desert Diamond Casino West ValleycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Native American Rodeo, supporting Native American cowboy and cowgirl competitions.
• Arizona LotterycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Coliseum Concert Series performances, including the Gin Blossoms live concert.
• Arizona State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated in March 2018 charrette (along with Governor's Office, State Historic Preservation Office, historical community, and neighbors) to explore the betterment of the Fairgrounds, documented in the Arizona Exposition & State Fair Charrette Report.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• State Fair of Texas: The State Fair of Texas (Big Tex) operates a comparable large-scale annual state fair at Fair Park in Dallas, drawing millions of visitors with concerts, livestock shows, midway rides, and food. It is a direct peer in the state fair category, operating on a similar seasonal venue + year-round rental model.
• Minnesota State Fair: One of the largest and most-attended state fairs in the US, operating the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights. Operates a near-identical business model—annual 12-day late-summer fair, year-round venue rentals, livestock/agricultural competitions, and concert series—making it a highly comparable direct peer.
• California State Fair: Operated by Cal Expo, the California State Fair runs an annual summer fair at the Cal Expo fairgrounds in Sacramento with concerts, livestock, and midway attractions, alongside year-round venue rentals. Directly comparable in scale, programming, and state-government operating structure.
• Wisconsin State Fair: Wisconsin State Fair Park hosts an annual 11-day state fair plus year-round event rentals, agricultural exhibitions, and concert series. Comparable in scale, programming mix, and public-sector governance model.
• Florida State Fair: The Florida State Fair Authority operates the annual Florida State Fair in Tampa plus year-round Fairgrounds event rentals, with similar livestock, concert, midway, and agricultural exhibition programming in a warm-weather climate comparable to Arizona.
• New York State Fair: Operated by the New York State Fair in Syracuse as part of the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, hosting an annual end-of-summer fair with concerts, livestock, midway, and year-round fairgrounds rentals. Direct peer in state-government-entity structure.
• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo: A massive annual livestock show and rodeo held at NRG Park in Houston featuring top-tier concert entertainment, competitive agricultural entries, and a large venue footprint. Closely comparable to the Arizona State Fair's Grandstand Series and Coliseum Concert Series programming.
• National Western Stock Show: Held annually in Denver at the National Western Complex, the National Western Stock Show combines livestock competitions, rodeo events, and educational programming with year-round venue rentals. Directly comparable in agricultural/heritage focus and venue-rental model.
• OC Fair (Orange County Fair & Event Center): Operated by the 32nd District Agricultural Association, the OC Fair runs a multi-week summer fair plus extensive year-round event rentals at the Costa Mesa fairgrounds. Highly comparable in California Southwest US positioning and event-rental diversification strategy.
• Puyallup Fair (Washington State Fair): One of the largest fairs in the Pacific Northwest, the Washington State Fair in Puyallup runs a multi-week annual fair and operates the fairgrounds year-round for trade shows, concerts, and events. Directly comparable in scale and annual + year-round operating model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/azstatefair
• Facebookfacebook.com/azstatefair

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Arizona State Fair