Minn. has the opportunity to place a bid for the 2023 World’s Fair. Hosting this world wide expo could be very beneficial for the state, but like any international event, it could have problems.

“The World’s Fair kind of started around the time of industrialization as a way for countries to show off what they have,” history teacher Dennis Lynn said.

In 1967, The World’s Fair was renamed Expo followed by the year. The first year with that name, Expo 67 was hosted by Montreal according World’s Fairs website. The goal of the event, no matter the name, is still the same: to showcase the world’s new technology.

“Just a place that countries introduce technology,” freshman Ben Greiber said.  

The Fair all though possibly not as well known as in past years, Orono students seem have a general understanding of it.

“Something where a bunch of countries come together and show technology,” sophomore Quinn Courteau said.

Hosting such a large event could prove to be very beneficial for Minn. The number of visitors at the Expo in 2023 is estimated to be in the range of 10 to 15 million people according to Expo 2023. Committee Chair for the Expo Mark Ritchie stated that three fourths of the spectators would come from around Minn. in an interview published by the Minnpost.

“Minn. is trying to assert itself as a place for international business, we are not just an isolated midwestern place, we are an international community,” Lynn said.

To host millions of people Minn. would need to build some grounds for the expo. “Minn. has already built infrastructure needed – we have a major airport, lots of hotel rooms, light-rail and other forms of public transportation,” Ritchie said. With any big events there are drawbacks and the World’s Fair could have quite a few.

The most recent World Fair in the U.S. was hosted by New Orleans in 1984. The New Orleans World’s Fair required aide from the US government to remain open for its entirety after it went bankrupt according to Minnesota Public Radio. It is possible that Minn. would also not draw enough people to make back the money invested.

“An Olympics or a World’s Fair is a kind of sugar high for a community. You get a short term burst of international attention and media recognition, but that doesn’t necessarily last very long.” Heywood Sanders said as quoted in “Minnesota World’s Fair?”

The Expo committee has created goals to ensure the World’s Fair would have lasting effects.

“Long-term, it will stimulate interest among our youth and younger people in careers related to science and technology,” Ritchie said. The push for new technology is growing in the 21 century.

The Expo in 2023 could debut some new advanced technology. “Maybe like a flying car or more efficient car,” Courteau said. “Holograms, personalized technology,” Greiber said.

If Minn. wins the bid for the 2023 Expo, the event would last three months. “There will be a large number of jobs related to the increase of tourism during that summer but that will be relatively short-lived,” Ritchie said. The increase in jobs could benefit the young people in the community in search of summer jobs.

In 2016 the vote for the bid for the World’s Fair will be accepted or declined. At that time we will know if Minn. will be the host in 2023.