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.

Under construction

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 


 
Planned construction (Funding approved)  

 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
 

Completed construction in 2004
 
 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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