GEDDES (AP) A central New York concert venue that has hosted acts ranging from Frank Sinatra to Pitbull has gone out with a big bang.
The grandstand at the New York State Fairgrounds was demolished using explosives shortly after 1:20 p.m. Saturday.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo was present and helped push the plunger. Cuomo said, "This is about progress.''
The 43-year-old structure was demolished as part of the state's $50 million renovation project at the fairgrounds in the Syracuse suburb of Geddes.
A recreational vehicle park will replace the grandstand site and State Fair concerts will be moved to the nearby Lakeview Amphitheater on Onondaga Lake.
The 17,500-capacity grandstand concerts drew hundreds of thousands of music fans to the fairgrounds during the fair's 12-day run at the end of the summer.
