History

The Exposition

Welcome to the Amarillo Tri-State Exposition!

Chartered in 1923, the Amarillo Tri-State Exposition is a public non-profit 501(c)(3) organization operated under the supervision of a volunteer Board of Directors.

The Exposition has two main directives:

1) The Operation and Maintenance of the Fairgrounds Complex

2) Annual Production of the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo

Facts

Exposition Facts

Panhandle Tidbits History of the Fair

Amarillo National Center

Amarillo National Center
Opened June 2000

From Dream to Reality: Amarillo National Center Takes Shape

When the doors of the Amarillo National Center opened in June 2000, a long-held dream became a reality for many in the Amarillo area. In January 1998, Amarillo voters overwhelmingly approved a proposition to build the National Center and to expand the Amarillo Civic Center. Supporters recognized the improvement of the quality of life and the economic impact that event facilities can have on a community.

The Amarillo National Center is a modern special events center, with additional features designed to make it user-friendly for spectators, event promoters, and participants. Shortly after opening, the Center gained recognition as one of the country's finest dirt-floor venues for equestrian and rodeo events and motor sports.

Tri-State Fair & Rodeo

The Tri-State Fair & Rodeo is the largest annual event in the Texas Panhandle, with an average of 130,000 people in attendance. In recent years, Fair visitors have represented 36 States, several foreign countries, and all 36 Panhandle counties. An event of this scale would not be possible without more than 600 local volunteers, who put in over 15,000 hours during the nine days of the Fair.

The Tri-State Fair & Rodeo is estimated to create a $5 million economic impact for the city of Amarillo during the nine days of the event.