Toronto's greatest annual summer tradition, the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), officially opens its gates on Friday, and despite the festival's record-breaking attendance in 2023, organizers say they are concerned about the event's future. 

Last year, approximately 1.6 million visitors passed through the fair's gates during the 18-day event, marking the highest attendance in recent history dating back a quarter century. 

However, just a few days ahead of the festival's return, the CEO of the Canadian National Exhibition Association (CNEA), Darrell Brown, says that the event needs the public's support against proposed developments on the exhibition grounds. 

Much of the concern surrounding the future of the 145-year-old fair revolves around the expansion of Hotel X as well as a potential above-ground parking lot on the site to support the mega Therme spa at Ontario Place. 

Brown told CBC Toronto that the expansion of the hotel and the addition of a performance venue would translate to a loss of roughly 33,445 square metres of space for the CNE. 

The Ford government has committed to building a parking lot close to the forthcoming waterpark and spa, and originally planned to tunnel an underground parking lot beside the lake. 

However, in late 2023, Ontario's auditor general found that the provincial government was obligated to build the parking lot within 650 metres of the spa. 

"We haven't confirmed the underground parking space because it costs so much to build underground," Premier Doug Ford said back in July. "We'd like to build as much on top without prohibiting the view." 

Brown also noted that the CNEA's lease on the food building is set to expire in 2027, adding to the concern about the festival's future. 

A spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of Infrastructure told CBC Toronto that no "final decisions" around the parking lot have been made, and that the government is coordinating stakeholder meetings with Exhibition Place and taking the "needs of tenants into account." 

Reactions to the festival's struggles were mixed, with some criticizing the fair's sky-high prices for food and rides. 

"The exorbitant prices isn't going to help," one person wrote on Reddit,

Another user agreed, writing, "Yeah if the CNE dies it will be because of the ridiculous prices. I'm sure it is expensive for the vendors to operate, but last year the prices were comical. There's a point where people won't pay for the nostalgia hit." 

Despite this, many were concerned about the future of the festival and suggested other sites where the summer tradition could take place. 

"Hear me out, we place the CNE as a festival across Lake Shore, from Princes' Gates to Jack Layton Terminal, and use the roads for two weeks," one person suggested. 

"That sounds about right," one comment reads. "We are destroying everything that made this city special, so why not ruin a 145-year tradition for a hotel and parking lot?"