Metal Detectors Approved For 2020 Minnesota State Fair

TWIN CITIES, MN — The Minnesota State Fairgrounds will get nearly 10 million in upgrades prior to the 2020 Great Minnesota Get-Together, continuing a decade-long trend of major facilities work. Included are changes at entrance gates to accommodate fair-time metal detectors.

"We've looked at adding metal detectors to our public safety program for a while now," said State Fair General Manager Jerry Hammer.

"We added bag checks in 2016, and this is the next step in maintaing a safe and secure environment."

The changes come after shootings that occurred outside the main fair gates on the final day of the 2019 Minnesota State Fair.

Other 2020 improvements and maintenance projects include are the renovation of the building located at 1640 Como Avenue (purchased by the fair in 2018) to include a new year-round ticket office, improvements to every building in the Minnesota State Fair's livestock complex, upgrades to utilities and communications systems, plus painting, landscaping, building improvements and utilities projects across the fairgrounds.

All projects will be funded through State Fair operating revenue and grants from the Minnesota State Fair Foundation, according to a news release. The fair is financially self-supporting and receives no government aid of any kind.

The 2020 Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 27 - Labor Day, Sept. 7.