(70 ILCS 200/45-12)
    Sec. 45-12. Powers. The Authority has the following powers:
    (a) To acquire, purchase, own, construct, lease as lessee, or in any other way acquire, improve, extend, repair, reconstruct, regulate, operate, equip, and maintain exhibition centers, civic auditoriums, cultural facilities, and office buildings, including sites, parking areas, and commercial facilities for those structures, located within the metropolitan area.
    (b) To plan for grounds, centers, and auditoriums; to plan, sponsor, hold, arrange, and finance fairs, industrial, cultural, educational, trade, and scientific exhibits, shows, and events; and to use or allow the use of those grounds, centers, and auditoriums for the holding of fairs, exhibits, shows, and events, whether conducted by the Authority or some other person or governmental agency.
    (c) To fix and collect just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory (i) charges and rents for the use of its parking areas and facilities, grounds, centers, buildings, and auditoriums and (ii) admission charges to fairs, shows, exhibits, and events sponsored or held by the Authority. The charges collected may be made available to defray the reasonable expenses of the Authority and to pay the principal of and interest on any bonds issued by the Authority.
    (d) To enter into contracts treating in any manner with the objects and purposes of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)