VENTURA : Contract Awarded for Wagering Facility

A $3.6-million contract to build a new satellite-wagering facility at the Ventura County Fairgrounds was awarded Wednesday, officials said.

The contract was awarded to Ventura-based Coffman Construction, which outbid 13 other companies, said fair spokesperson Teri Raley.

Construction will begin Dec. 21, and the facility is scheduled to be ready in about a year.

The building will be on the southeast corner of the fairgrounds at the Directors’ Building, which is scheduled to be demolished.

The satellite-wagering facility will be a two-story, 36,000-square foot building that will house 60-inch television sets broadcasting live TV simulcasts from major Southern California race tracks.

The building would be a permanent home for the off-track betting operations, which are housed in three buildings at the fairgrounds. During the fair, satellite-wagering operations are moved to a tent, which have prompted complaints from patrons.

Off-track betting at the fairgrounds attracts about 800 customers daily and accounts for about $2.5 million of the fair’s $5.9-million budget, officials said.