It’s been home to the World Dairy Expo for close to 60 years. And now various officials are saying the Alliant Energy Center (AEC) needs to evolve as the dairy industry, and the show highlighting it, continues to grow.
Dane County Executive Melissa Agard announced a close to $200 million redevelopment plan for the AEC’s campus in Madison, Wisconsin, at a news conference held during this year’s World Dairy Expo. She says it would bring new exhibition space, updated facilities, and additional amenities.
“We want the World Dairy Expo to continue to grow right here in Dane County,” Agard said.
World Dairy Expo leaders say the redevelopment could help keep the international dairy event in the area for decades to come.
LISTEN to the complete news conference, covered by the Mid-West Farm Report team, here:
Three phases for the future
The current redevelopment vision includes three major phases.
First — the Coliseum. The building dates back to 1967. It would receive a major interior renovation focused on accessibility, seating, food options, and the overall guest experience. There’s a goal to increase the number of events the Coliseum can host each year, while also making it more useful for World Dairy Expo.
The second phase is a mixed-use development. This work would be completed on different portions of the campus and its parking areas. Ideas include housing, restaurants, hotels, and retail.
The third phase focuses on expanding the exhibition hall, which opened in 1995. World Dairy Expo and other major large events have outgrown the existing facility.
“World Dairy Expo currently uses temporary structures to accommodate additional cattle housing and trade show space,” Expo General Manager Laura Herschleb explained. “We are receiving more requests for meeting space than we can accommodate.”
(Photo: Cows in the Coliseum during World Dairy Expo)
Keeping World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin
Everyone agrees. The redevelopment is about preparing the campus for future generations, while also strengthening an on-going partnership with World Dairy Expo.
“We need to continue to grow. We need to continue to evolve as a campus in order to serve the needs of our customers,” Alliant Energy Center Executive Director Kevin Scheibler said.
(Photo: Alliant Energy Center Executive Director Kevin Scheibler talks about the development plans during a news conference. Dane County Executive Melissa Agard is to his right.)
World Dairy Expo brings more than 50,000 visitors to the state from around the world each year. It is the largest event held on the AEC campus and benefits hotels, restaurants, and other local businesses in the area.
The redevelopment plan still requires approval from the Dane County Board and additional funding partnerships with state and federal governments.
But for those with World Dairy Expo, the message during the news conference was clear: the future of the show and the future of the Alliant Energy Center are closely connected.
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