California fairgrounds become a new flashpoint in the data center expansion debate

Fairgrounds draw an unusual development pitch

Now, Global Stack LLC is pitching fairgrounds on edge computing facilities, multilevel parking garages, and helicopter landing sites. Earlier, the company materials referred to the computing facilities as data centers, whereas Global Stack now emphasizes that they would be much smaller than hyperscale campuses.

At least three fairgrounds have signed nonbinding memorandums of understanding to continue negotiations with Global Stack, but those agreements do not authorize construction or commit the properties to final projects.

The company promises a new revenue model

Global Stack LLC registered as a California company in March 2026, although outreach to some fairgrounds began in 2025, according to interviews and public records reviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Its pitch combines data centers with parking structures and emergency-use landing sites. Supporters see a new income stream, while fair officials say careful review is needed before any deal moves ahead.

A 70 site goal raises the stakes

Global Stack LLC has outlined an ambitious vision for the California fairgrounds. Company materials described a goal of having up to 70 sites completed or under development by 2030.

The target remains far ahead of the project’s current status. Global Stack identified 33 initial fairgrounds to approach, but several have rejected the idea, others remain in early discussions, and no statewide buildout has been approved.

Fairgrounds do more than host fairs

California’s fairgrounds are more than places for rides and livestock shows. Many also serve as community gathering spaces and emergency sites during wildfires, floods, heat waves, and other disasters.

That public role makes development especially sensitive. A data center could provide lease income, but communities may ask how construction, traffic, power needs, emergency access, and long-term leases would affect land already serving several public purposes.

Why the money question matters

Money is a major reason the proposal has attracted attention. Fair leaders told the San Francisco Chronicle that many properties need repairs and dependable revenue after years of financial pressure and pandemic disruptions.

Global Stack has pitched leases, parking income, and revenue sharing as answers. For fair managers, the appeal is understandable, but reliable income depends on contracts, financing, construction, and projects ultimately being financed, built, and placed into operation.

Five acres could change a fairground

Global Stack has told fair leaders that its concept would require up to five acres of fairground property at each participating site.

The company has told fair officials that the parking could accommodate hundreds of vehicles and that the landing sites could support emergency responders. Those promises remain only proposed, meaning local reviews would shape what ultimately gets built.

Power demand enters the debate

Power is one of the biggest questions surrounding any data center. Global Stack has told several fairgrounds that its proposed computing facilities could require 8-10 megawatts of power. That is far below many hyperscale campuses but still substantially more than an ordinary commercial building.

That matters because data centers run continuously and require reliable electricity and cooling. Communities considering a project may want details about grid connections, backup power, water use, efficiency, and who pays for necessary infrastructure upgrades.

Fun fact: U.S. data centers consumed about 4.4% of the nation’s total electricity in 2023, according to a 2024 Energy Department report.

Parking is part of the pitch

The parking garages may be an easier part of the pitch for fairgrounds to picture. Large events can create parking demand, while unused land can sit quietly much of the year.

Global Stack has proposed garages holding roughly 500 to 1,500 vehicles at some sites. Extra parking could support very busy events, but communities need to consider traffic, construction impacts, design, cost, and maintenance.

Fun fact: U.S. data-center electricity use climbed from about 58 terawatt-hours in 2014 to 176 terawatt-hours in 2023.

Helipads add an emergency angle

Helicopter landing areas add an unusual piece to Global Stack’s plan. The company says proposed vertiports could support first responders during emergencies while serving private aviation clients.

That idea aligns with the fairgrounds’ disaster-response role, but it would require more than just a drawing in a pitch deck. Safety rules, flight paths, noise, emergency coordination, local approvals, and operating arrangements would need to be in place before routine use could begin.

Family ties raise disclosure questions

Questions about transparency have entered the discussion. Michael Flores, California’s deputy secretary for fairs and expositions, made introductions and attended several meetings involving Global Stack. At the same time, his daughter Ellesse Flores worked for the company as a marketing and communications consultant.

The reporting did not establish that Flores violated California conflict-of-interest law, and an ethics expert said that whether state rules applied would depend on additional facts about his role and any financial interests.

Some fairgrounds are saying no

Not every fairground has welcomed the idea. Calistoga ended discussions with Global Stack after residents strongly objected to the concept, which city officials said had not yet become a formal development proposal.

That mixed response shows how local the debate can become. A project that looks useful at one fairground may feel unsuitable at another because of neighborhood concerns, available power, environmental questions, land needs, finances, or the site’s character.

One network with very different needs

California’s fair network is large and varied. The California Department of Food and Agriculture lists 78 fairs statewide, ranging from major urban properties to smaller agricultural and county fairgrounds.

That variety makes a one-size-fits-all development strategy difficult. A busy urban fairground can have different needs from a smaller rural property. Local boards will likely judge proposals according to finances, community use, infrastructure, emergencies, and what residents want preserved.

For another California data center update tied to water demand, community resources, and local oversight, see why a new AI lawsuit is raising concerns over the state’s strained supply.

The bigger data center boom

The fairground proposal sits within a national data center boom, fueled in part by artificial intelligence. Demand for computing power is pushing developers toward sites with land, electricity, fiber connections, and room to expand.

For California communities, the question is not simply whether data centers are coming. It is whether public fairgrounds are the right places for them, and what protections should come before long commitments.

For another California data center update tied to AI growth, infrastructure demand, and community concerns, see why a plan for 70 facilities could reshape the state’s debate.

Should fairgrounds be used for data centers, or protected for public events and local history? Share your thoughts and drop a comment.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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