Colorado State Fair Won't Be Cashless This Year

DENVER (AP) — Organizers say the cash-free system that debuted at the Colorado State Fair last year is too expensive to be brought back this year.

Last year, fair-goers were able to use pre-loaded smart cards to buy snacks, drinks and tickets to shows at the fairgrounds in Pueblo. Fair general manager Chris Wiseman said Wednesday the California-based vendor Cashless earned about $60,000 by charging users $1 per card in fees.

Wiseman says Cashless presented a proposal that would boost its earning close to $200,000 this year. He says officials want to cut the costs to fairgoers this year.

Wiseman says he would like to bring back a cashless system, but is not sure when that will be possible.