Events continue at Taylor County Expo Center amid improvement projects

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – From one major event to another, the Taylor County Expo Center is experiencing a serious turnaround to keep up with event scheduling while undergoing improvements.

It seems like there is always something going on at the Taylor County Expo Center. With the completion of the Texas High School Rodeo Association Finals, the next event is just around the corner. Soon, the Expo Center will host the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America World Show.

These significant events only last about three days, and the Expo Center’s general manager, Rochelle Johnson, detailed what it takes to set up properly during this tight turnaround.

“The gentleman started taking down all of the stalls on the north side at First Financial Pavilion, and they’ll take down about half the stalls on the south side of First Financial Pavilion. And then we have to put cattle ties up. We’re preparing for about 480 Longhorns,” Johnson said.

These events aren’t the only things keeping Expo Center crews busy. A variety of projects are also underway at the expo center, including the installation of two massive air conditioning units for the coliseum. Johnson said that the older units had reached the end of their legal lifespan, and event goers in the old coliseum began to notice the hotter conditions inside.

Also on the project list for the Expo Center is the beginning of the next stage in their massive parking lot refurbishment project that will encompass a large portion of the northern section of parking at the Expo Center. A third project that is also currently in the works, which Johnson explains will help keep event patrons’ feet dry.

“The problem is that there’s some low-lying areas there, right in front of the round building, and so every time it rains, we have somewhat of a lake in that area. So, the county is pulling down that east fence line, and they’re going to put a flume in that will carry the water from gate H out to the north,” Johnson said.

Despite the many projects, Johnson says they are doing everything they can to ensure that event goers will see as little impact as possible on their Expo Center experience and adding that this latest phase of their parking lot revitalization project is currently projected to be complete by early fall and should not affect the annual Taylor County Fair & Rodeo.