The centerpiece building of the future Jacksonville Fairground s on the Westside is once again rising up from acres of cleared land after a storm in February caused a temporary setback by knocking down a partly built steel frame structure .

The progress on the new building is visible from Normandy Boulevard where drivers go past the entrance to the regional park that's home to the Jacksonville Equestrian Center and Cecil Aquatics Center.

"Even with that collapse, it didn't set us too far back and they made up that time," Greater Jacksonville Fair Association CEO Bill Olson said.

He said the building for the expo hall, amphitheater and offices is on track to open in January 2026 and based on that timetable, the association is angling to possibly start hosting events at the new fairgrounds next March.

The biggest event in 2026 will be when Greater Jacksonville Agriculture Fair relocates to the Westside location in fall of that year. For this year's fair, the fair will take one last spin at its longtime home in the sports complex before moving.

The fair association decided to move because it will have far more space for events on the Westside .

Jaguars owner Shad Khan and his Iguana Investments bought the association's property at the sports complex and then leased it back to the association so it could put on this year's fair while work continues on the new site.

The city also is doing construction for roads, parking lots, drainage, utilities, and the area where the midway with all the rides will set up during the fair.

Olson said the association hopes all the work by the city can be done by summer 2026.

"As of now we're on track," he said. "Let's get through hurricane season. You can't control the weather. That's the one thing with these projects."