GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Fair has made a deal to add parking space for 3,500 more vehicles just east of the fairgrounds in Grand Island.

The deal for the nearly 40 acres of space was announced Tuesday.

A tram will carry people from the lot to the fair’s east entrance.

Fair executive director Joseph McDermott told the newspaper that he and other fair officials were caught off guard by the Labor Day crowd last year. He says the crowd of 68,000 would have been even higher if fair officials had anticipated traffic and parking needs better.

This year’s fair runs Aug. 24 through Sept. 3.