Ohio Beef Expo Construction Updates: What Attendees Need to Know

Ongoing construction at the Ohio Expo Center will present some logistical challenges for this year’s Ohio Beef Expo. The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) staff and volunteers are working diligently to accommodate all exhibitors and attendees. Multiple meetings with Ohio Expo Center officials have allowed OCA to identify solutions to help maintain traffic flow and maximize the use of available space. 

Early Arrival Option 

To help manage congestion and improve move-in efficiency, OCA is allowing early arrival for 2026 only. All trade show exhibitors, breed sale consignors, and junior show participants may begin moving cattle and/or tack into the fairgrounds starting at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17. This early arrival option is designed to spread out traffic and ease peak unloading times. 

Cattle Exhibitor Trailers Entrance Instructions 

Upon arrival, all trailers will be directed as follows: 

  • Primary Entrance: Hudson Street, Exit 112 north of the grounds, turn onto Silver Drive to enter Gate 19 near the railroad. 
  • Alternate Entrance: Plaza on the east side of 17th Avenue off I-71. 
  • No entrance will be allowed from 11th Avenue. 
  • After unloading, all exhibitor trailers must exit through Gate 9 on 11th Avenue, then proceed west on 11th Avenue, turn right on 4th Street, right on Hudson Street, and reenter to park in designated trailer areas. 

Please note: 17th Avenue remains closed to traffic from the west side during construction. 

To assist with unloading, Expo staff will operate an enhanced staging area along Korbel Avenue for sale and junior show trailers, trade show exhibitors, and cars before entering the fairgrounds at Gate 10 on 17th Avenue. 

Parking & Shuttle Service 

Parking may still be challenging. OCA will provide golf cart shuttle service from several parking areas north of 17th Avenue to transport attendees to and from the Expo grounds throughout the event. 

Parking Instructions for Cars & Pickups (Not cattle trailers) 

  • Enter via Hudson Street Exit 112 to (Gate 17) east of the historic Crew stadium or via the plaza on the east side of 17th Avenue off I-71. 
  • No entrance will be allowed from 11th Avenue. 
  • School buses arriving Thursday, March 19 for the Judging Contest will park in the reserved “sale buyer” parking area north of 17th Avenue. 

Sale Buyer Trailer Instructions 

  • Enter from Hudson Street Exit 112 to Silver Drive (Gate 19) or via the plaza on the east side of 17th Avenue off I-71. 
  • Reserved “sale buyer” trailer parking is available in the Korbel camping areas north of 17th Avenue. 
  • Golf cart shuttles will transport sale buyers from trailer parking to the sale cattle barn. 
  • No entrance from 11th Avenue. 
  • Sale trailers will exit via Gate 9 on 11th Avenue. 

OCA encourages participants to continue checking OCA’s Facebook page and www.ohiobeefexpo.com for the latest traffic updates. For additional questions regarding traffic instructions, contact the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association at (614) 873-6736.

Posted: March 3, 2026