County sinks $15M into Kennewick fairgrounds and grandstand. What’s changing?
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- Benton County invests $15M in fairgrounds upgrade, starting with parking lot.
- McDaniel Arena remodel begins post-fair, doubling seating to 6,000 by 2026.
- 2025 fair expected to draw tens of thousands and generate $18M in revenue.
After 75 years, the Benton County Fairgrounds in Kennewick is getting a $15 million makeover, with some of the work set to wrap up before the Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo kicks off.
The first phase — a $3 million parking lot project — began in January.
The second and more ambitious phase is a total renovation of the aging McDaniel Arena. Workers will dig in after this year’s fair wraps up in late August.
The county characterizes the work as an investment in growth and economic activity.
“The planned remodel will ensure the fairgrounds and event center remain safe, welcoming, and capable of hosting larger scale events that serve the entire community. The renovation also reflects the venue’s expanding role in the regional economy and substantial growth for the area,” the county said.
What to expect
Parking lot work started in January, when the county contracted with Big D’s Construction to rebuild the expansive lot around the main entrance.
The project included removing 19 pine trees dating to the 1970s in order to add about 360 new parking spots .
The project includes new ticketing booths, an open air shelter, a bus shelter and nearly 29,000-square-feet of irrigated landscaping with ornamental grasses, shrubs and shade trees.
The parking lot project is on track to wrap up before the bi-county fair — the fairground’s largest and most important tenant — takes over Aug. 19-23.
McDaniel Arena
The second phase centers on McDaniel Arena and will begin once the fair and Horse Heaven Round-up Rodeo ends. The county awarded a contract to Fowler Construction about a year ago.
The $12 million project includes rehabbing tired infrastructure and improving air and sound quality on the grounds.
McDaniel Arena will get new grandstands with seating for 6,000, double the current 3,000. Restrooms will be modernized as well. The area know as “over the chutes” will remain in place, the county said.
The county named the arena for longtime fair volunteer Dan McDaniel in 2019.
Commissioners have expressed a desire to get more activities at the arena, such as concerts, monster truck rallies or motocross races.
The Tri-Cities Northern Racing Quarter Horse Association announced in 2023 it was ending horse racing on the SunDowns track after Benton County canceled its contract this year over insurance issues.
They hadn’t run races at the track since 2019, first due to COVID-19 closures and then due to insurance issues.
Arena work is expected to wrap up by July 2026.
The county previously considered building a 50,000-square-foot event center but fired the Portland firm that was designing the project in 2023, saying it couldn’t find a shared vision for the fairgrounds.
The move delayed the parking lot work by about a year. It was originally supposed to be done before the 2024 fair.
The county is funding the work with economic development funds.
Best Week of Summer
The 2025 Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo will bring tens of thousands of visitors, vendors, competitors, entertainers and others to the east Kennewick venue.
Billed as “The Best Week of Summer,” the fair is in its 77th year and generates more than $18 million in economic activity in Benton County.
Lori Lancaster, executive director of the nonprofit fair, said the association welcomes the improvements, but it is still assessing how it will work. The parking lot will have less shade and more asphalt than people remember.
She encouraged fairgoers to use Ben Franklin’s free bus rides to get to and from the property.
It is also pleased to see the arena expand, but she said the fair association has concerns. Its lease currently ends this year.
“With the 2026 season fast approaching, it’s critical to keep construction timelines on track to ensure those beloved events continue without disruption,” she told the Tri-City Herald.
The 2025 concert lineup includes Jake Owen (Aug. 19), Daughtry (Aug. 20), Wynonna (Aug. 21), Smash Mouth and Sir Mix-A-Lot (Aug, 22) and Banda Carnaval (Aug. 23).
For fair and ticket information, go to bentonfranklinfair.com.
This story was originally published June 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM.