Minnesota State Fair Stage Vendor Faces Charges

Minnesota State Fair officials say they have standards to keep stages as safe as possible for concertgoers and performers.

But they acknowledged Monday that the company that erects its temporary stages faces charges in Canada for a fatal stage collapse during a storm two years ago.

Renee Pearson, deputy general manager for entertainment and marketing, says Premier Global Production, of Nashville, Tenn., has been the fair’s vendor since 2003.

Premier was one of three companies recently charged in Canada after a stage collapse during a fierce storm killed a woman attending a country music festival in Alberta two years ago.

Pearson says Minnesota fair officials know that but still have confidence in Premier.

Chief Financial Officer Kevin Blevins says Premier strongly believes in the safety and integrity of its stages.