Williamson County Expo Center on track to finish in 2025

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas - Williamson County plans to expand one of its most popular venues next year: the expo center.

The Williamson County Expo Center is a place that's busy year-round.

A few months ago, it was the site of the annual fair and rodeo. Next month, it's a CrossFit venue. It’s even been the grounds for a job fair for Samsung.

If the county wants to keep hosting things like this, it said it's going to need more space. That’s why construction crews are clearing a path on the backside of the center near Bill Pickett Trail.

"We're about a month into the project, pretty excited," said Russell Fishbeck, Williamson County’s Senior Director of Parks and Recreation. "This is going to be a large covered arena."

The new arena will be 175 by 450 feet. It will have additional parking, picnic pavilions, restrooms, and showers.

"There will be a lot of equestrian-related events because of the dirt arena. It'll accommodate rodeos, ropings, barrel racing, it'll allow the fair and rodeo to grow as well," said Fishbeck.

The price tag is a whopping $10.7 million. It’s all paid for through a 2023 parks bond.

Friday’s construction comes about eight years after the center's big 2016 remodel.

"We thought we would grow. We just didn't know how fast, how soon, and so I guess in some ways a little surprised at how quickly it has come, but not at all surprised that we need the additional space," said Fishbeck.

Williamson County estimates it will double its population in the next two decades to more than 1.3 million people. And if it wants to welcome all the new rodeo goers, it's time to start digging.

"Williamson County, as most folks know, is growing very rapidly, and so this will also support that growth on the east side of the county," said Fishbeck.

There's a one-year contract on this project, so the county hopes it will be done by this time next year.