BLOOMINGTON -- The shows must go on.

The future owner of the main building at the Interstate Center has agreed to let events use most of the structure as planned through spring of next year, a spokesman for the Interstate Center said Tuesday.

The pending purchase of the single main building and the south parking lot by Birkey's Farm Store, a large implement dealer, was announced last week. The deal could be finished by the end of the month.

The Interstate Center, established by the McLean County Farm Bureau, will retain ownership of about 90 percent of the 102-acre site, including the Mini Expo Building, the West Expo building, the livestock buildings and the remainder of the parking lots and land.

At first, promoters of some of the larger events already under contract to use the main building feared they might be squeezed out or forced to trim their shows. But Mike Swartz, general manager of the Interstate Center complex and the McLean County Fair, said Birkey's agreed this week to accommodate the events scheduled until May with only a minor loss of space.

Among those shows events are the 40th annual Fashion 2000 Bridal Expo, the Illinois Fish and Feather Expo, The Pantagraph Kid's Expo and Home Show, the Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic and the Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale.

"We are going to be able to handle all our larger events," Swartz said.

After May, the Interstate Center will retain use of about half of the main building for as long as Birkey's is willing to lease it, Swartz said. That time period could be as long as 10 years or more, he added. The McLean County Fair will continue at the site.

"I received an e-mail saying I would have full access to the lobby and ballroom (on the building's east side) with no problems. That's all we wanted," said Robert Handley, who was considering legal action to save his 40th annual Fashion 2000 Bridal Expo on Jan. 14.

"It will solve the issue for my show and many of the others. I'm happy with the solution. My unhappiness (in the long run) is the loss of the interstate center for our events. There is no place in town that has 90,000 square feet. There is definitely a need."