For Immediate Release
June 21, 2010
Lori Chappell, Iowa State Fair
515/262-3111 ext. 204
or Mary Neubauer, Iowa Lottery
515-725-7906

State Fair Discount Admission Tickets to be Sold by Iowa Lottery for First Time

Adult advance-admission tickets to the Iowa State Fair will be available through Iowa Lottery sales terminals this year for the first time, giving Fair fans nearly 2,000 locations statewide where they can buy tickets. The Fair is set for “Non Stop Fun” August 12-22.

Tickets will be printed from Lottery terminals on the same paper that is used for lotto tickets in games such as Powerball. Adult advance-admission is $7, with a $1 convenience fee for tickets available from lottery terminals. Tickets go on sale July 1 and must be purchased by August 11, the day before the Fair.

“This is a collaboration that will add convenience and statewide accessibility to discounted Iowa State Fair tickets,” said Fair Manager/CEO Gary Slater.

Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich noted that the Fair and Lottery have a long history of working together. He said he’s excited about the help the partnership could mean for other projects in the future.

“The Lottery’s base of retailers and equipment creates an extremely wide and deep customer network,” Rich said. “This project with the State Fair is a great fit for both organizations and the thousands of customers looking to buy tickets.”

The first Iowa Lottery tickets were sold at the 1985 State Fair. Lottery proceeds were used to remodel the Grandstand on the State Fairgrounds, and the Lottery sells tickets each year at the Fair from its booth in the William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building.

Child advance-admission tickets will not be available through the Lottery system but will be available at all Dahl’s Food Stores, participating Fareways, as well as participating Iowa and Omaha-area Hy-Vee and Hy-Vee Drugstores. They will be $3. Adult and child tickets are available now at www.iowastatefair.org or at the State Fair Ticket office beginning July 12. Tickets are good any one Fair day. Children 5 and under are admitted free everyday.

The Iowa State Fair is set for “Non Stop Fun” August 12-22, 2010. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.