Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Events And Tourism topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Placer Valley Tourism reports record livestock auction sales, steady fair attendance; Robb'Len Center anchors sports tourism
Summary
Placer Valley Tourism presented a year-end update on At the Grounds: the county fair achieved third-highest attendance under current management, livestock auction receipts remain strong, the 160,000-square-foot Robb Len Center hosts large sporting events that generate hotel room nights, and staff continue efforts to grow midweek business.
Placer Valley Tourism reported to the Placer County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 14 that the county's fairgrounds operations have continued to expand since PVT assumed management in 2017, with strong livestock-auction sales, awards for the fair's branding and growing use of the Robb Len Center for sports and midweek events.
Key points from the update: PVT said the 2025 Placer County Fair, despite high heat that suppressed some attendance, was its third-largest since PVT took over fairgrounds operations; the 2024 livestock auction produced historic high sales (about $461,000) and 2025 was the second-highest year to date. The presentation noted a single animal sold for $32,000 in 2024.
Robb Len Center and sports tourism: The 160,000-square-foot indoor arena (the Robb Len Center) can accommodate multiple basketball and volleyball courts and has been a major driver of hotel room nights in the county. PVT said the center supports thousands of room nights for tournaments and weekend events and that midweek bookings are a key growth opportunity.
Other activities and community events: PVT highlighted successful new and returning events including a rib cook-off, wine-and-ale partnerships, the All American Speedway season, and the Mountain Mandarin Festival. PVT said it added in-house concessions in 2024 and prioritized healthier food and local vendor partnerships.
Financial and operational notes: PVT said its overall event footprint (three cities and multiple venues) generated roughly 660,000 room nights and more than 650 events under its management; more than half of PVT's generated hotel room nights come from events at At the Grounds. PVT also noted infrastructure improvements such as an intersection roundabout that has improved traffic flow to the campus.
Board response: Supervisors praised PVT's private-public management approach, noting benefits to hoteliers and other local businesses. No formal vote was required for the informational update.
