Change on the way for Red River Exhibition Park

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This article was published 11/05/2015 (4033 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Spinning around on a ride, chowing down on a smokie or mini doughnuts, and petting a farm animal are part of the annual tradition for those who attend the Red River Ex each June.

Now featuring a midway, entertainment, exhibits and lots of sugary treats, the Ex has been held in various Winnipeg locations for the past 63 years, moving to Exhibition Park in 1997.

Red River Exhibition Association CEO Garth Rogerson said the board of directors has approved a major development of the 480-acre site, referred to as Precinct R in the development plan. The land is located on the western edge of Winnipeg, next to the boundary with the RM of Headingley. The property was purchased in 1964.

“It was the dream to develop out here,” Rogerson said. “We’re one of the bigger landowners.”

While most people visit the site during the Red River Ex, Rogerson said it’s used throughout the year.

“We’re busy every weekend with consumer shows and industry.”

He gave the example of MacDon, a Winnipeg farm equipment manufacturer, using Exhibition Park and the 40,000-square-foot Exhibition Place to hold a display and training session.

However, Rogerson said he and the association’s board see enormous additional potential for the site, and are awaiting City of Winnipeg council’s approval of a development plan that involves a series of new and expanded facilities.

He said negotiations on establishing the Precinct R plan have been ongoing for the past five years but believes that the overall development plan will soon get the green light. The plan incorporates information gathered through two traffic studies, a water distribution and sewer study and a land drainage study.

“The idea is to be sure that it can be done,” Rogerson said.

Visitors to this year’s Ex will get a glimpse of the new development as the main entrance from Portage Avenue to the grounds will be shifted west from Race Track Road to the recently constructed Festival Drive.

Festival Drive will take people to a new parking area with a gravel surface that
Rogerson said will be multi-use.

The roadway will also lead into Westport Festival, Shindico’s new retail and light industrial business park. John Pearson, a broker with IC&I Properties, said plans for the 70-acre site include a hotel, restaurants, retail businesses, an office park and businesses offering recreation and entertainment opportunities.

“We’ve got a mixed use of occupants,” Pearson said.

While he wasn’t able to say which company will operate the hotel that’s to be located next to Race Track Road, Pearson expects construction to start later this year.

Rogerson said he sees the hotel as being a valuable and necessary addition to the area, since it will offer accommodation for those attending events at Exhibition Park and the neighbouring MTS Iceplex and Assiniboia Downs.

Rogerson has plans showing how guests parking in the Festival Drive lot can access Exhibition Park through a new gate on the west side of the grounds. He foresees these people attending events at an expanded Exhibition Place, a new multi-use event centre with up to 5,000 seats, and improved equestrian facilities with three more show rings and barns.

He said he’s anticipating a trend, now underway in other North American cities, that sees convention delegates being bussed from a downtown convention centre or hotel to a more remote site, such as Exhibition Park. As well, discussions are underway with the city about eventually establishing regular bus service for workers and shoppers going to Westport Festival. A park and ride service for those coming from Headingley and other communities outside Winnipeg is also a possibility. Cycling trails are also part of the Westport Festival and Exhibition Park development plans.

“We’re really trying to be modern in our approach,” Rogerson said.

He foresees the improved Exhibition Park, a Class A agricultural fair facility like Brandon’s Keystone Centre and Regina’s Evraz Place, attracting more agricultural shows.

“You can’t put cows and sheep downtown,” he said, indicating that pursuit of agricultural events won’t put the Red River Exhibition Association in competition with the RBC Convention Centre, which is also undergoing a huge expansion.

He’s pleased the All Canada Classic Sheep Show is being held at Exhibition Park in June.

“There hasn’t been a national sheep show here for years and years.”

The Manitoba Fibre Festival is relocating from the St. Norbert Community Centre to Exhibition Park this year. The Saturday farmers market held in July and August will continue.

Although Exhibition Park might look quite different in 10 years if all the development plans move ahead, Rogerson said

Winnipeggers can continue to count on coming to the Ex each June.

“The carnival is the economic wheel that keeps everything going,” he said.

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