Pomona Fairplex — LLMpedia

Pomona Fairplex
TheRealThummer · Public domain · source
Name	Fairplex
Location	Pomona, California
Owner	Los Angeles County Fair Association
Opened	1922
Area	543acre

Contents

Pomona Fairplex is a major exposition center and fairground in Pomona, California, serving as a venue for a wide range of Los Angeles County, Southern California cultural, commercial, and agricultural events. The site hosts the annual Los Angeles County Fair and year-round trade shows, concerts, and community programs, attracting visitors from Los Angeles, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County. Its facilities have hosted exhibitions connected to institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, US Department of Agriculture, California Department of Food and Agriculture, and partnered with organizations including The Walt Disney Company, National Football League, and Los Angeles Rams for special events.

History

The property opened in 1922 under the auspices of the Los Angeles County Fair Association and emerged during the interwar period alongside developments in Los Angeles County infrastructure like the California State Route 57 corridor and the expansion of Santa Fe Railway and Union Pacific Railroad freight lines. Throughout the Great Depression and the New Deal era, the grounds hosted agricultural exhibits tied to the United States Department of Agriculture programs and collaborated with California Agricultural Extension Service agents. During World War II, parts of the site were repurposed for military staging consistent with regional installations such as March Field and logistical nodes near Los Angeles International Airport. Postwar growth paralleled the rise of Disneyland tourism and the expansion of Interstate 10 and Interstate 210 transportation, with the Fairplex engaging entertainers like Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, and later performers linked to Live Nation and AEG Presents. In later decades, the Fairplex adapted to trends in trade shows exemplified by partnerships with organizations such as the American Society of Association Executives and conventions influenced by the rise of Comdex, E3 Expo, and agricultural symposiums associated with University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The campus comprises exhibition halls, outdoor arenas, equestrian centers, and conference facilities including spaces comparable to venues used by the Los Angeles Convention Center, Rose Bowl Stadium, and Staples Center. Grounds include the Glenn E. Thomas amphitheater-style arenas, livestock barns used in shows connected to 4-H and Future Farmers of America, and paved exhibit pavilions hosting trade organizations such as the National Association of Broadcasters and Society of American Florists. The equestrian complex draws participants from circuits associated with the American Quarter Horse Association and the United States Equestrian Federation, while indoor arenas accommodate conventions tied to the Consumer Electronics Show-style logistics and exhibitors like Sony, Microsoft, and Apple at industry events. Culinary showcases have featured partnerships with entities like the James Beard Foundation and vendors influenced by California State Fair food trends. On-site infrastructure supports broadcast media from outlets such as KTLA, KCAL-TV, and KABC-TV when national productions occur.

Signature annual events include the Los Angeles County Fair with agricultural exhibits, carnival rides, and concert series that have booked acts from Taylor Swift-era stadium tours to legacy residencies like Tony Bennett. Year-round programming ranges from trade shows linked to the National Association of Home Builders and International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions to cultural festivals celebrating communities including Mexican-American, Filipino American, Chinese American, and Armenian American populations, often featuring performances from performers affiliated with Hollywood Bowl and Greek Theatre circuits. The Fairplex has hosted automotive showcases analogous to Los Angeles Auto Show vendors, pet expos with organizations like the American Kennel Club, and conventions for fandoms similar to San Diego Comic-Con International and Anime Expo. Agricultural competitions align with standards set by American Royal and incorporate judging panels drawn from California Polytechnic State University and University of California, Davis faculty. Special events have included political rallies involving figures connected to California gubernatorial campaigns and civic meetings resembling those held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Ownership and governance are vested in the Los Angeles County Fair Association, operating with a board structure that interacts with Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and regulatory agencies such as the California Department of Public Health and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Management has engaged consulting firms and partnerships with entities like Ares Management Corporation for capital projects and worked with municipal planners from the City of Pomona and regional bodies including the Southern California Association of Governments. Financial oversight has included audits by firms in the lineage of the Big Four accounting firms and grant coordination with agencies like the Economic Development Administration and Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster response staging when required. Labor relations have involved unions such as the Teamsters and United Food and Commercial Workers, while concessions and merchandising contracts have been awarded to national vendors including Centerplate and Aramark.

The Fairplex contributes to regional tourism linked to attractions like Disney California Adventure Park, Huntington Library, and San Gabriel Mission, supporting hospitality sectors represented by Hilton Hotels and Marriott International properties. Economic impact studies have compared its multiplier effects to those attributed to the Los Angeles Convention Center and the Anaheim Convention Center, generating employment across sectors related to event management and retail chains such as Target and Walmart when large fairs draw shoppers. Community outreach initiatives have collaborated with non-profits including the United Way, Salvation Army, and local entities like the Pomona Unified School District to host job fairs, vaccination clinics in partnership with Kaiser Permanente and Cedars-Sinai, and disaster preparedness exercises with Los Angeles County Fire Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The site is served by regional transportation networks including Foothill Transit buses, proximity to the Metrolink commuter rail network via nearby stations on lines operated by Southern California Regional Rail Authority, and highway access from Interstate 10, Interstate 210, and State Route 57. Shuttle services have connected to Los Angeles International Airport and Ontario International Airport during major events, while rideshare operations by Uber and Lyft are common at ingress and egress points patterned after practices at venues like Dodger Stadium and Hollywood Park Casino. Parking management has coordinated with traffic control agencies such as the California Highway Patrol and municipal departments of the City of Pomona to handle event day volumes.

Category:Fairgrounds in California Category:Buildings and structures in Pomona, California