Earl Warren Showgrounds rejects data center proposal

Leadership at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara has officially rejected an unsolicited proposal to host a data center on the property. CEO Ben Sprague stated that the organization will not consider the project, emphasizing a commitment to preserving the site for agriculture, equestrian activities, recreation, and emergency preparedness.

The proposal was submitted by Global Stack LLC, a Santa Ana-based company, via the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Global Stack had proposed a 100-year agreement to build and maintain infrastructure, including a micro data center, which the company claimed could serve as a revenue source and provide resilient communications nodes during emergencies.

Local residents had expressed opposition to the plan, citing environmental concerns and the economic sustainability of the data center and AI industries. While the proposal was presented as a potential revenue stream, showgrounds leadership declined to move forward with a Memorandum of Understanding.