Companies and organizations looking to associate their brand with OKC Fair Park can throw their hat in the ring for naming rights.
OKC Fair Park earlier this month announced the opportunity to secure naming rights for the Oklahoma State Fair, as well as the 435-acre, multi-use venue.
The park brings in approximately 2.3 million visitors, provides thousands of jobs and generates tens of millions of dollars for the economy each year, according to a news release from fair officials.Park officials say the companies or organizations selected will attach their name to what is widely considered Oklahoma’s “most iconic gathering place,” recognized locally, statewide, nationally and internationally.
The State Fair and OKC Fair Park attract coverage across traditional media outlets, digital platforms, and among social media influencers, “offering significant visibility and reach for partners,” according to the release.
“Because of the wide variety of events that take place at OKC Fair Park each year, we believe this to be a golden opportunity for the right company that wants to align itself with a tremendous volume and variety of visitors,” Kirk Slaughter, president and CEO of the Oklahoma State Fair said in a statement. “Whether it be a local, national or international company, we feel confident that a partnership with us will return huge dividends in building brand equity throughout the Oklahoma City market and beyond.”
OKC Fair Park has hired local sales consultant Loud City Partnerships, a division of the Oklahoma City Thunder, to lead the naming rights procurement process.Will Syring, vice president of corporate partnerships for Loud City Partnerships, said officials are open and flexible on both the name and entitlement, which means a company could get both, or one of either the fair or the park grounds.
The process was announced October 10, and Syring said they already have interested parties.
“There’s not a ton of facilities that have the emotion that a fair or fair park can bring to a market, so that rarity in this market is a really powerful opportunity for a brand,” Syring said Wednesday.
Syring said they hope to secure a business or organization as soon as possible. Funds from the deal will support the fair’s operations and events.“You want to make sure that you align goals and objectives for both the fair, and for the brand, and see what they’re trying to accomplish, whether that’s something locally, whether it’s a story that they want to tell nationally or even beyond that. The fair provides a very diverse audience, which is unique when you look at naming rights opportunities across the market, and so we’re excited to jump into the near-term opportunities that are ahead and work through it in the coming months.”
History of the fair and fairgrounds
The Oklahoma State Fair opened for its inaugural season on Oct. 5, 1907. Since then, it’s become one of the premier fairs in the nation, according to the official website.The Oklahoma State Fair opened for its inaugural season on Oct. 5, 1907. Since then, it’s become one of the premier fairs in the nation, according to the official website.Oklahomans have embraced the fair, which draws more than one million attendees each fall who come for attractions, showcases, and of course, culinary treats like Indian tacos and fried cookie dough.
Oklahoma City residents have shown support for the fair at the polls with the 1993 MAPS one-cent sales tax for nine projects that included a $14 million renovation to the fairgrounds, completed in 1998.The Fair Park itself attracts more than 1.3 million visitors each year through competitions and events. As the “Horse Show Capital of the World,” OKC Fair Park hosts more national and international equine championship events than any other city in the world, according to a fair release.
Competitions include the American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show, Arabian and Half Arabian Youth and Mid-Summer National Championships, Better Barrel Races World Finals, National Reining Horse Association Futurity, and the Grand National and World Championship Morgan Horse Show.
Additionally, the park hosts agricultural shows, sporting events, trade shows, concerts, outdoor and adventure events, as well as festivals and cultural events.