The Ohio Expo Center is a 360-acre, year-round facility that hosts approximately 200 events annually in addition to the Ohio State Fair. Wellogy has had the honor of completing the last three master planning efforts for the Ohio Expositions Commission.
The 2022 Master Plan, completed in coordination with the Governor’s office, established a long-term vision for the Ohio Expo Center as one of the premier state fair and event venues in the country. The study first defined the ideal Ohio State Fair experience without site constraints, then evaluated how that vision could be accommodated, phased, and optimized on the existing site to better serve Ohioans year-round.
A key component of the plan was recognizing the importance of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ presence on the fairgrounds and planning for an improved visitor experience that supports ODNR’s mission of education, conservation, stewardship, and public engagement. The planning process considered how the ODNR area could better connect visitors to Ohio’s natural resources while supporting large-event operations, circulation, access, flexibility, and long-term facility improvements across the Expo Center.
The 2013 Master Plan Update addressed current and future market demand, expansion opportunities, modernization of existing infrastructure and facilities, and improvements to the customer experience.
The 2001 Master Plan established a 10-year phased roadmap for development, capital funding, site management, and phased capital budgeting across three biennia.
Together, these planning efforts provide the Ohio Expositions Commission with a strategic framework for future capital planning, long-term growth, sustainable facility improvements, and the continued preservation of state resources while supporting a healthy, accessible, and engaging experience for exhibitors, animal event sponsors, ODNR visitors, and the public.
