Agricultural Arena being Proposed for Winnebago County

Winnebago County, IL- Winnebago County could soon be home to another arena. Winnebago County Board Member Randy Olson is promoting a plan to build a $20 million agricultural exposition center that would feature cattle shows, rodeos, and other farm-related entertainment. While no specific locations have been chosen for the 150,000 square-foot facility, one area being considered is land near Bypass 20 and Winnebago Road. Olson says he expects the center will draw large crowds and big money from around the region. "What this does is it brings money into our community that we would never tap any place else," says Olson. "We`re not stealing it from one community to the next. We`re actually getting it from out of state residents." The proposal for a new arena comes is in response to nearly 200 petitions from residents asking the county board to place a tax referendum on the April ballot. The referendum would ask for a five cent property tax levy to pay for the land and construction as well as maintenance of the center. If the referendum were approved, Olson says it would bring in nearly $2.3 million a year for the project. The additional tax would mean a homeowner with a $150,000 house would have to pay $20 a year. But Olson says the project would eventually end up paying for itself. "After the facility gets running these facilities normally pay 60 to 70 percent of their operating cost within the first two or three years," says Olson. "Then we`ll have additional monies coming in to either reduce bond debt or expand the facility." John Groh with the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau says a feasibility study must be done before it can be determined how successful the center would be. "There`s alot of possibilities. But I think we need to go through the process of really examining what an expo center specifically geared toward the agricultural industry means. What the pros and cons would be for moving that idea forward." The signed petitions will go before the county board in about two weeks. From there, the board is expected to place the question on the April ballot. If the referendum is approved, the arena could open in 2008. County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen says he is unhappy that talks about the proposed center are beginning even as MetroCentre plans continue to be hammered out. But he says proposed plans for the arena should not have any effect on the county board`s decision to renovate the MetroCentre. "We don`t even know at this point if the feasibility study will stand up or maybe it`s just something that ends up being done at our existing fairgrounds," says Christiansen. "But that should not in anyway impact the decision on the MetroCentre because those are entirely two different venues." Christiansen says cost and revenue projections need to be considered before he will endorse the project.