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Cuomo opens 2017 edition of the New York State Fair

Ellen Abbott
/
WRVO News
Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney, left, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo ride the Broadway Skyliner, a new ride at this year's New York State Fair

Gov. Andrew Cuomo opened up the first “Preview Day” of the New York State Fair near Syracuse Wednesday. The fair expanded to 13 days this year, with this first day called a preview day because some features, like the animal buildings, aren’t fully open yet. Admission to the fair today was just $1. Rides also cost $1 early in the day.

Cuomo joined local dignitaries to cut the opening day ribbon Wednesday morning. He said the millions of dollars the state has invested in the fairgrounds is finally paying off, and he suggests the revamping of the fair is a metaphor for other state-funded economic development projects upstate.

“Today you could not have a more glorious day to open the fair, and not just in terms of weather but because upstate New York and central New York and this fair are better and stronger and brighter than they have ever been before,” said Cuomo.

Credit Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office
An artist rendering of a new Expo Center at the state fairgrounds in Geddes

The next step in the re-imagining of the state fair is the construction of a new $50 million Expo Center, which Cuomo says will be one of the biggest in the northeast. He predicts it will be finished by the time the 2018 state fair rolls around.

This year’s state fair runs through September 4. 

Ellen produces news reports and features related to events that occur in the greater Syracuse area and throughout Onondaga County. Her reports are heard regularly in regional updates in Morning Edition and All Things Considered.