Bids Sought For Lake Co. Fairgrounds Events Center Naming Rights

LAKE COUNTY, IL —The Lake County Fair Association is seeking written proposals for “naming rights” sponsorship of the its events center. The 85,000-square-foot events center located at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road in Grayslake, is typically booked year-round but has hosted far fewer events this past year due to state mandates put in place regarding social gatherings amid concerns over COVID-19.

Those interested in naming rights for the facility can submit their bids by 2 p.m. on Oct. 5 at the Lake County Fair Grounds & Event Center. A contract award will be made within 30 days after the close of a bid, according to a statement from the Lake County Fairgrounds.

The Lake County Fair Association's board of directors will base its decision on naming rights on the bids received and the "the best interests of the Lake County Fair Association," according to a statement from the association.

Those wishing to schedule a tour of the event center and request an invitation to bid, which includes sponsor benefits and submission requirements, can contact Jon Brodzik, general manager, or Shannon Dunn, sales and marketing manager, at 847-680-7200. Or, send an email to shannon@lcfair.com and use “Invitation to Bid” in the subject line.

The Event Center

The event center was built in 2008, and in a typical year, more than 500,000 visitors attend events at the center, including branded exhibits, home and garden shows, antique shows, cluster dog shows and more.

The event center contains an expo hall, which is equipped with a permanent registration booth, digital signage, staff offices, flexible function rooms, sanitation stations and a spacious lobby with natural light. The building has solar panels on its roof.

The spacious expo hall is "social-distance-friendly" with ground level load-in and three drive-in overhead doors. It is the optimal venue to display large vehicles, and watercraft and industrial equipment, making it ideal for car, RV and boat shows, swap meets, sporting events and concert performances, according to the Lake County Fair Association statement.

Two event center meeting rooms have a shared a sink, microwave and refrigerator, which can be used separately or combined for social-distanced meetings and private events for up to 180 people.

In addition, the event center is surrounded by more than 100 acres of property and 12 acres of paved surface, making it a sought-after space for outdoor music festivals, farmers markets, food truck events, obstacle fun runs, car shows and drive-through light festivals. The space features the Grandstand Arena, which can hold 5,000 capacity people, and is perfect for rodeos, motor sports and equestrian events.

The show barn has been a popular location for weddings, family reunions, corporate events and more. Located right off of Peterson Road, the event event center also has paved parking lots that are close to the building and can hold up to 1,250 vehicles.

More information is available on the Lake County Fairgrounds & Event Center website.