Indiana State Fair Coliseum: Youth Arena Opening

The 2013 Indiana State Fair welcomed the opening of the Youth Arena. The new, 29,000 square foot venue is part of a larger renovation of the original Livestock Coliseum building, built in 1939. The Youth Arena replaces an outdoor covered arena, and is nestled between three existing fairground structures: the Coliseum, a Powerhouse, which contained old mechanical and ice plant equipment, and the South Pavilion.

Populous combined its expertise in fairground, equestrian and arena design, to deliver a multi-use facility that can accommodate livestock events, community skating, hockey, banquets and trade shows. When the Coliseum renovations are completed in 2014, the Youth Arena will connect it with livestock stalling and staging in the South Pavilion.

Cindy Hoye, the Executive Director of the Indian State Fair, commented that Populous “paid attention to the details and created a building with better functionality”. The smaller show ring is more appropriate for the 4-H and Youth shows, as it provides a more controlled environment for the young participants and their livestock.

Because of the flexibility and connectivity to the South Pavilion, parents can help their kids get ready and also get to the viewing platform in time to see them show their prized livestock. Rich Trombley, the Indiana State Fair Project Manager, stated that the Youth Arena is “gorgeous and functioned beautifully” during the fair. Hoye also added that the “versatility of the space will resonate across generations”.