The New York State Fair – which first opened in 1841 – is set to undergo a US$50m (€44.5m, £33.4m) revitalisation to turn the ageing attraction into a world-class entertainment and tourism destination.

State governor Andrew Cuomo announced on 21 January (last Wednesday) that he would be partnering with a private company for the project, which will see the fairgrounds and surrounding community “rebuilt” in what the governor called “the biggest capital project at the fair in more than a century.”

"The state fair, in truth, reflects yesterday's New York,' said Cuomo during his State of the State speech. "It does not reflect today, or tomorrow's New York. Let re-imagine the state fair. Let's invest in it. Let's be proud of it. Let's get a private sector company to come in and partner with us and invest US$50m and really turn around the state fair the way the state is turning around.'

At present, details of what the revamp would include are vague, with the Fair’s spokesperson Dave Bullard saying it was also “awaiting the details of what this means” for the visitor attraction.

"Obviously, we're very excited about it,” he continued. “Obviously, it means great things for the fair, for Onondaga County, for the region and for the state.”