Earl Warren Showgrounds confirmed in a press release that the board of directors will not consider a proposal for a data center on the property.
Sprague told the News-Press last week that he had met with representatives of Global Stack, the company proposing the infrastructure development, but had declined to enter a Memorandum of Understanding to continue talks of the proposal.
“We want to be absolutely clear: Earl Warren Showgrounds will not consider a data center on this property,” said Showgrounds CEO Ben Sprague. “Our focus remains on preserving and strengthening the Showgrounds as a community asset, supporting agriculture and equestrian activities, recreation, public gatherings and emergency preparedness for generations to come.”
This press release comes in the wake of public outrage over rumors of a data center being proposed on the Showgrounds property by the company Global Stack USA.
Sprague told the News-Press that the California State Department of Food and Agriculture contacted him for a meeting with representatives of Global Stack.
Sprague did not know what the meeting was for. At the meeting, he heard the proposal from Global Stack and the company requested to enter a memorandum of understanding with the Showgrounds to continue talks. Sprague declined to enter the memorandum.
For the past couple of meetings, Global Stack has been listed as an agenda item under the CEO’s report but has yet to be discussed at a meeting. Sprague says he must report that the discussion took place to the board of directors—hence the item on the agenda.
“The reference to Global Stack on previous Board agendas was included solely as part of the CEO’s routine reporting of outside inquiries. It did not represent a proposal initiated, endorsed or under consideration by Earl Warren Showgrounds,” the Showgrounds wrote in the press release.
Global Stack is an infrastructure development company based out of Orange County. The company builds shipping-container sized data centers along with other infrastructure such as parking lots and landing pads.
The company has been delivering similar proposals for a 100-year land lease for 2-5 acres of property on showgrounds and fairgrounds around the state of California.
While several fairgrounds have entered the memorandum of understanding with Global Stack, none have formally agreed to the proposal.
