State Fair of Texas Distances Itself From $5.7M Maintenance Dispute with City of Dallas and OVG360
Fair Park First oversees Fair Park and contracts with Oak View Group to run its day-to-day operations.
In the spring of 2024, Fair Park First accused OVG of misusing funds and called for an audit. They claim OVG used funds that were designated for certain improvements for daily operations instead.
Wednesday, the findings of that audit were presented to the board in a closed session. After that session, Fair Park First board voted to approve and accept what they call an “agreed upon procedures report.” They said $5.7M was misallocated. They’re planning to work with an attorney to recover the funds that were mismanaged by OVG.
OVG responded to the claims in a statement Wednesday:
“Oak View Group is not responsible for any deficiency in the fundraising cash account balance at Fair Park. More importantly, the audit report confirms there has been no fraud or misuse of funds. OVG executed its responsibilities according to our contract. All fundraising cash was spent on Fair Park and Fair Park First exclusively, and all uses of donated funds were directed or approved by Fair Park First in writing. We have not received a demand from Fair Park First for payment of any amounts, but if received we will respond accordingly.”
Here is their press release.
By STATE FAIR OF TEXAS |
We are saddened by the recent news regarding our home, Fair Park. We want to reiterate to the public that the State Fair of Texas is in no way involved in the dispute between Fair Park First, OVG360, and the City of Dallas. This dispute is related to the year-round management of Fair Park. The State Fair of Texas is a private not-for-profit organization that is a tenant in Fair Park. The State Fair operates under a lease agreement with the City of Dallas. Our hope is that this dispute will be resolved quickly in the best interest of the future of Fair Park and our surrounding community.
We have been a proud partner of the City of Dallas and Fair Park for 138 years. The State Fair generates millions of dollars in funding from the annual fair exposition and provides a large portion of these funds to the City of Dallas for the historic preservation of Fair Park – more than $41 million directed to City for Fair Park over past 10 years. The remaining proceeds fund other important initiatives of our nonprofit mission – Big Tex Urban Farms, Big Tex Scholarship Program, Big Tex Business Masterclass, Big Tex Community Giving Program, Big Tex Community Engagement Day, Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction, etc. – or are reinvested back into the fair event to continue hosting fairgoers at the most Texan place on Earth. In addition, the State Fair is estimated to bring in up to $680 million to the North Texas economy annually.
The State Fair of Texas is unwavering in its commitment to Fair Park and is dedicated to operating in a fiscally responsible manner to ensure that the Fair will continue to thrive for future generations. The State Fair’s financials are annually audited by Ernst & Young and posted to BigTex.com, in addition to the Fair’s Annual Report, to ensure transparency.
We hope fairgoers will continue to come out to the State Fair of Texas before we close on Sunday, October 20. When you have fun at the State Fair for 24 days each fall, it allows the State Fair to reinvest back into the community 365 days per year. In 2023, the State Fair’s philanthropic and Fair Park giving totaled nearly $15.8 million.
