Minnesota State Agricultural Society’s Annual Meeting Looks Ahead to 2025 Minnesota State Fair

At its 166^th annual meeting, the Minnesota State Agricultural Society board, governing body of the Minnesota State Fair, approved a total of more than $20.1 million to support critical projects aimed at improving the State Fairgrounds and enhancing the guest experience for years to come. The 2025 budget includes $13.9 million for the first phase of major renovation work on the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum. The Minnesota State Fair is financially self-supporting and fully funds all operational and facility maintenance and capital improvements across its expansive 322-acre grounds. The Society’s annual meeting was held Jan. 16-19 at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Bloomington, Minn.

Significant Investment in Facilities and Operations

Among the most notable projects the State Fair will undertake in 2025 and 2026 is a highly impactful investment, totaling an estimated $22 million, in the historic Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum, the first significant update in the building’s almost 75-year history. This iconic structure is the centerpiece of youth and open-class livestock and horse exhibitions and dozens of year-round events. This project will enhance the experience for tens of thousands of guests and benefit exhibitors who travel from across the state. Planned upgrades include replacing the leaking roof, modernizing mechanical and electrical systems, installing new seats and railings in the seating area, expanding restroom capacity, renovating entryways, and improving lighting, ventilation and accessibility.

Additionally, in 2025, the State Fair is investing $6.2 million in dozens of upkeep and capital projects essential to maintaining the functionality, safety and long-term viability of the fairgrounds. These include: Replacing the roof of the 4-H Building, upgrading fencing and gate areas, revamping the Creative Activities Annex, caring for and adding trees throughout the grounds, purchasing a police squad car, continuing upgrades to Christensen Pavilion, replacing and repairing sidewalks and street pavement, upgrading the fiber optic system, improving building lighting and maintaining street lights, installing and replacing water bottle refill stations and drinking fountains, purchasing misting machines and trash compactors, maintaining the sewer system, plus additional roof repair, painting, ventilation, landscaping, vehicle maintenance and computer hardware projects.

The board approved the 2025 State Fair operating and maintenance budget reflecting expenses of $71 million. Like many businesses, the State Fair is not immune to rising costs across all areas of its operation. For example:

Public safety: The State Fair’s robust public safety program, which has more than doubled in cost since 2019, includes additional on-site officers, enhanced gate security, and other measures involving agencies at the local, state and federal levels.
Transportation services: Providing free and discounted transportation options is a $4.4 million annual expense and remains a cornerstone of our guest service efforts.
Staff wages: The fair prioritizes providing competitive wages for the fair’s more than 2,000 seasonal and fair-time staff members who are integral to the guest experience in a variety of areas encompassing sanitation, parking, ticketing, guest services, activities and exhibit offerings, and more.
Entertainment: High-quality entertainment on the fair’s free stages, plus hundreds of demonstrations, competitions and educational and agricultural exhibitions, are a hallmark of the Minnesota State Fair, and the cost of presenting these has continued to rise.

Ticket Price Increase to Fund Facilities Work

To fund extensive capital improvements and maintenance work and address rising operational costs after not increasing ticket prices in 2024, the Society is set to implement a $2 admission ticket increase in each category for the 2025 State Fair.

Pre-fair discount admission tickets for all ages Jan. 27 through Aug. 20: $17
Regular fair-time admission at the gate: Adults (ages 13-64) – $20; Seniors (65+) and Kids (ages 5-12) – $18; Children (4 and under) – always free
Promotional day discounts will continue to be offered on Opening Day, Aug. 21; Seniors Days, Aug. 25 and 28; Military Appreciation Day, Aug. 26; and Kids Days, Aug. 27 and Sept. 1.

From now through Sunday, Jan. 26, pre-fair discount admission tickets are on sale at the 2024 price of $15. These tickets are available at Etix.com and are valid any day of the fair and for any age.

On-site parking will be $25 in 2025, up from $20. State Fair-sponsored Park & Ride service and on-site bike parking will continue to be free.

This marks the first ticket and parking price increase since 2023, when admission rose $1 and parking rose $3.

“Our goal is to exceed the expectations that guests and fair participants have for an exceptional experience in well-maintained facilities. Delivering on this while ensuring the sustainability of our operations requires increased investment and financial stewardship,” said Renee Alexander, State Fair CEO. “We consciously did not raise ticket and parking prices last year because we know that Minnesotans’ budgets are tight,” Alexander continued. “We encourage our guests to take advantage of the many ways to save on admission – such as buying pre-fair discount tickets – as nearly 60 percent of our guests did in 2024. Because we strive to keep admission prices as low as we can, this makes it challenging to account for the expense of improving our aging facilities and infrastructure. We do not take lightly the decision to increase prices, and every dollar earned is reinvested into ensuring the State Fair remains a premier experience and one of the best values you’ll find for any event.”