ALBUQUERQUE — Former Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez says the New Mexico State Fair does not provide meaningful economic benefits to nearby neighborhoods and should be reconsidered as the state studies future redevelopment of the Expo New Mexico site.
Chavez, who is serving as a special adviser on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s State Fairgrounds Initiative, said the current fair model does little to support surrounding businesses. He said most visitors drive to the fairgrounds, eat and spend money inside the fair, and leave without visiting nearby restaurants or shops.
Chavez said state analysis shows little local employment benefit from the fair. According to that analysis, only one full-time fair employee who receives benefits lives in the surrounding area.
The fairgrounds sit in an area Chavez described as economically struggling, with ongoing concerns about crime and public safety. He said the fair’s short run each year does not improve conditions for nearby neighborhoods.
Chavez is overseeing development of a master plan for the future of Expo New Mexico, a 236-acre property owned by the state. The plan includes considering whether the New Mexico State Fair should stay at the site or move to allow for year-round redevelopment.
He said redevelopment of the site could generate between $2 billion and $4 billion in economic activity and create more jobs over time than the current fair model.
The initiative is being led by the administration of Michelle Lujan Grisham. State officials say the planning process is ongoing and no final decisions have been made.
