September 2004
Convention Center Construction Update
27 construction projects under way in the United States and Canada will add more than 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space
By Heather Kirkwood
While the economic downturn, coupled with the building boom of the 1990s, might have slowed down the number and size of convention center construction projects in the pipeline, there are still plenty of communities willing to invest in more exhibit space. Several are new players in the convention center market looking for new sources of tax income, while others are old pros hoping their construction projects will help them remain competitive in an age where the average-sized convention center is growing.
According to EXPO research, there are currently 27 construction projects under way in the United States and Canada, building more than 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space. Of those, 12 are brand new facilities, most located in bedroom communities near major metro areas hoping to cash in on the exhibition trade, as well as have a place to hold local civic events.
While that may seem small compared with the 4.5 million square feet of space completed or under construction in 2002, it should be noted that the current crop of projects lacks a mega exhibit hall project with more than one million square feet.
Five projects have been completed so far this year, adding 825,300 square feet of exhibit space to the overall inventory. Of those, two are new facilities, and three are expansions. By the end of the year, another four projects will be completed, bringing the total space constructed in 2004 to more than 1.2 million square feet.
Another five projects are in the early stages of the construction pipeline, planning groundbreakings for this fall. These projects have approved funding from local governments and investors. Four of the five are expansions as communities strive to remain competitive. In all, they’ll bring another 991,000 square feet of potential exhibit space into the construction pipeline.
Heather Kirkwood is Senior Editor for EXPO. She can be reached at 913-344-1376 or e-mail: hkirkwood@ascendmedia.com.
| Name of facility and location |
New/expansion |
Construction details |
Estimated completion date |
| AmericanBank Center, Corpus Christi, TX |
Expansion |
Adding 76,500 SF of exhibit space, plus a new 10,000-seat arena |
November 2004 |
| AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong |
New |
762,000 SF of exhibit space |
December 2005 |
| Broadmoor Hall, Colorado Springs, CO |
New |
60,000 SF of exhibit space |
Fall 2005 |
| Ceasers Palace, Las Vegas |
Expansion |
Adding 86,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 240,000 SF |
June 2005 |
| Colorado Convention Center, Denver |
Expansion |
Adding 292,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 584,000 SF |
December 2004 |
| Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, CT |
New |
145,000 SF of exhibit space |
Summer 2005 |
| Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, FL |
Expansion |
Adding 86,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 176,000 SF |
April 2005 |
| DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI |
Expansion |
Adding 100,000 SF of exhibit space |
February 2005 |
| The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL |
Expansion |
Adding 40,000 SF of meeting space |
August 2004 |
| The Exposition, Convention and Conference Center in Novi, MI |
New |
320,000 SF of exhibit space |
August 2005 |
| Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, CA |
New |
Adding a special events center with 100,000 SF of exhibit space |
December 2004 |
Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne, IN
|
Expansion |
Adding 25,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 50,000 SF |
May 2005 |
| Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, VA |
New |
108,000 SF of exhibit space |
May 2005 |
| The Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY |
Expansion |
Adding 50,000 SF of exhibit space and renovating 215,000 SF of space, total exhibit space after expansion: 1.2 million SF |
December 2005 (phase I) |
| Louisville Marriott Downtown, Louisville KY |
New |
Adding 50,000 SF of exhibit space (the hotel will be attached to the Kentucky International Convention Center) |
April 2005
|
| McCormick Place West, Chicago |
Expansion |
Adding 470,000 SF of exhibit space |
June 2005 |
| New Jersey Convention and Expo Center, Edison, NJ |
Expansion |
Adding 25,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 150,000 SF |
September 2004 |
| Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL |
Expansion |
Adding 100,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 160,000 SF |
Early 2007 |
| Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs CA |
Expansion |
Adding 36,378 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 102,378 SF |
n/a |
| Phoenix Civic Plaza, Phoenix |
Expansion |
Adding 598,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 900,000 SF |
Early 2006 |
| Puerto Rico Convention Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico |
New |
152,700 SF of exhibit space |
Late 2005 |
| Regina Exhibition Park, Regina Canada |
New |
90,000 SF of exhibit space |
Spring 2005 |
| Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Pavilion Convention Center, Las Vegas |
Expansion |
Adding 60,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 160,000 SF
|
May 2005 |
| Spokane Convention Center, Spokane WA |
Expansion |
Adding 60,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 100,000 SF |
November 2006 |
| St. Charles Convention Center, St. Charles, MO |
New |
154,000 SF of exhibit space |
April 2005 |
| Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA |
New |
150,000 SF of exhibit space |
Spring 2005 |
| Wynn Las Vegas, Las Vegas |
New |
75,000 SF of exhibit space |
April 2005 |
| Name of facility and location |
New/expansion |
Construction details |
Groundbreaking date |
Completion date |
| Kansas City Convention & Entertainment Centers, Kansas City, MO |
Expansion |
Adding a 40,000 SF ballroom |
2005 |
2007 |
| Morial Convention Center, New Orleans |
Expansion |
Adding 500,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 1.6 million SF
|
Late 2004
|
2008 |
| Pasadena Conference Center, Pasadena, CA |
Expansion |
Adding 25,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 57,000 SF |
Early 2006
|
2008 |
| Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC |
New |
150,000 SF of exhibit space |
Mid-2005 |
2007 |
| Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre, Canada |
Expansion |
Adding 276,900 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 384,900 SF |
Fall 2004 |
2008
|
| Name of facility and location |
New/expansion |
Construction details |
Completion date |
| Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston |
New |
516,000 SF of exhibit space |
June 2004 |
| Lexington Convention Center, Lexington, KY |
Expansion |
Added 27,000 SF of meeting space and 25,000 SF of pre-function space |
July 2004 |
| Kalahari Waterpark Resort and Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI |
Expansion |
Added 80,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 125,000 SF |
June 2004 |
| Gaylord Opryland Texas Resort and Convention Center, Irving, TX |
New |
179,800 SF of exhibit space |
April 2004 |
| Moody Gardens Convention Center, Galveston, TX |
Expansion |
Added 22,500 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 60,000 SF |
May 2004 |
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