Expanding the Michigan Farm Bureau Pavilion

Michigan’s agriculture community walks through our doors. Home to livestock expositions, horse shows, youth programming and commercial events, the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) Pavilion is an in-demand venue.

Each year, 100,000 visitors from all over the Great Lakes region join us for 100 events over 250 days.

Since its opening in 1996, the MFB Pavilion has outgrown its capacity – and it’s time for a new era. Two new expansion concepts have been proposed.

Both expansion concepts will:

Create a fully enclosed second indoor arena attached to the existing MFB Pavilion
Eliminate the need to warm animals up outdoors in the elements before events.
Ensure exhibitors, animals and equipment will stay clean and dry before showing
Increase the size, scope and quality of events hosted at the facility

Connecting the auxiliary indoor arena to the pavilion complex also ensures easy travel between the arenas, the show office and the exhibitor area. They would also offer new administrative space for event managers in close proximity to the main and auxiliary arenas. Both concepts would allow events at the existing pavilion complex during the construction process.

Basic Concept

Estimated cost: $10-11M
Area: 24,200 square feet
Key features: Addresses the immediate need for expanded warm-up space at the pavilion complex. The Basic Concept provides indoor warm-up space. The side-by-side arenas allow exhibitors to warm up in the covered addition and transition quickly to showing in the main arena. The connected walkway provides exhibitors and guests with a designated route between the arenas. This concept situates the show office near both the main (current) arena and warm-up arena, as well as adjacent to the exhibitor area.

Expanded Concept

Estimated cost: $16-19M
Area: 40,700 square feet
Key features: Offers significant program enhancements and flexibility for the long-term growth of the pavilion complex. The Expanded Concept includes a second full-size arena and significantly more warm-up space than the Basic Concept. By enabling controlled access to portions of the pavilion complex, both arenas can operate concurrently or independently, facilitating spectators at events in either location. The Expanded Concept also retains the existing outdoor arenas for continued use when needed. Space for raised seating (up to 200 spectators) and a lobby area keeps guests off the rail and out of exhibitors’ way. The warm-up arena connects to the main (current) arena via a walkway through the exhibit area. A new show office would be located near the exhibit area, offering a more convenient setup for showrunners.

A new era

Adding space will improve experiences for animals, exhibitors and members of the public who attend events, and this investment will increase the quality, size and scope of events.