projects under way

Annual Convention Center Construction Update
30 construction projects under way or planned in the United States and Canada will add more than 4.9 million square feet of exhibit space
By Joshua Moss

Cities remain undaunted in their quest to obtain convention and trade show business, despite some rumblings about a glut of exhibition space in 2005. A total of 22 new projects, both new facilities and expansions, have broken ground so far in 2005, according to EXPO research. Of those, eight are brand new convention centers — several in communities new to the convention industry such as Jackson, MS, and McAllen, TX. Still others are further expansions of existing convention powerhouse destinations such as the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

The construction boom is fueled, in part, by expanding shows, a plethora of new show launches and the increased availability of capital to fund construction. Several cities on this year’s list have contemplated construction for several years now, but held off after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the subsequent industry slump.

Today, however, there are 30 construction projects under way or planned in the United States and Canada. Ten of the facilities are brand new, and 20 are expanding their exhibit space. In total, the 30 facilities will build about 4.9 million square feet of exhibit space. At this time last year, there were 30 construction projects under way or planned in the United States and Canada, estimated to build a total of about 4.4 million square feet of exhibit space.

Ten projects have been completed so far in 2005, adding a total of about 920,000 square feet of exhibit space to the market. Of the completed projects so far this year, the four new facilities have built a total of about 609,000 square feet of exhibit space, and the six expansions have built a total of about 311,000 square feet of exhibit space.

Four more facilities, totaling about 437,000 square feet of exhibit space, are expected to be completed by the end of this year. The 12 projects completed in 2004 offered a total of about 1.35 million square feet of exhibit space, and the 14 projects that will be completed in 2005 will offer about 1.36 million square feet of exhibit space. Here’s a guide to facilities under construction and completed in 2005.

Joshua Moss is an editorial intern for EXPO.

Planned or Under construction

Name of facility and location	New/expansion	Construction details	Estimatedcompletion date
AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong	New	710,000 SF of exhibit space	December 2005
Branson Regional Convention Center, Branson, MO	New	50,000 SF of exhibit space	February 2007
The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CO	New	60,000 SF of exhibit space	October 2005
Capitol City Convention Center, Jackson, MS	New	90,000 SF of exhibit space	2008
Cinergy Center, Cincinnati	Expansion	Adding 38,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 200,000 SF	July 2006
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans	Expansion	Adding 522,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 1.6 million SF	Late 2008
Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, CT	Expansion	Adding 115,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 170,000 SF	Summer 2008
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Oxon Hill, MD	New	180,000 SF of exhibit space	Early 2008
Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis	Expansion	Adding 330,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 734,000 SF	Fall 2010
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York	Expansion	Adding 486,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 1.3 million SF	2010 (first phase)
John Q. Hammons Convention Center, Rogers, AR	New	80,000 SF of exhibit space	July 2006
The Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY	Expansion	Adding 170,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 770,000 SF	October 2005
McAllen Convention Center, McAllen, TX	New	63,400 SF of exhibit space	April 2007
McCormick Place West, Chicago	New	470,000 SF of exhibit space (giving McCormick Place a total of 2.6 million SF of exhibit space)	Early 2008
Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center, Biloxi, MS	Expansion	Adding 128,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 180,000 SF	December 2007
New Raleigh Convention & Conference Center, Raleigh, NC	New	150,000 SF of exhibit space	Spring 2008
Ocean Center Convention and Entertainment Complex, Daytona Beach, FL	Expansion	Adding 100,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 160,000 SF	Fall 2007
Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, FL	Expansion	Adding 136,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 350,000 SF	2007
Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, CA	Expansion	Adding 54,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 120,000 SF	October 2005
Pasadena Conference Center, Pasadena, CA	Expansion	Adding 25,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 57,000 SF	2008
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia	Expansion	Adding 260,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 700,000 SF	December 2008
Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, IL	Expansion	Adding 36,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 100,000 SF	September 2007
Phoenix Civic Plaza / Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix	Expansion	Adding 364,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 585,000 SF	2009
Puerto Rico Convention Center, Puerto Rico	New	152,700 SF of exhibit space	November 2005
Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, Schaumburg, IL	New	100,000 SF of exhibit space	July 2006
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City	Expansion	Adding 150,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 515,000 SF	August 2006
Shreveport Convention Center, Shreveport, LA	New	96,000 SF of exhibit space	January 2006
Spokane Convention Center, Spokane, WA	Expansion	Adding 61,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 100,000 SF	August 2006
Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre, Vancouver, Canada	Expansion	Adding 231,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 322,000 SF	2008
Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA	Expansion	Adding 94,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 150,000 SF	January 2007
Westworld of Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ	Expansion	Adding 150,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 260,000 SF	June 2008

Completed construction in 2005

Name of facility and location	New/expansion	Construction details	Completion date
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas	Expansion	Added 59,750 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 167,500 SF	August 2005
Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, CT	New	140,000 SF of exhibit space	June 2005
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, FL	Expansion	Added 86,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 181,000 SF	April 2005
Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne, IN	Expansion	Added 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
Novi Expo Center, Novi, MI	New	215,000 SF of exhibit space	August 2005
Regina Exhibition Park, Regina, Canada	Expansion	Added 90,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 360,000 SF	July 2005
Rio Pavilion Convention Center, Las Vegas	Expansion	Added 60,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 160,000 SF	May 2005
San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, CA	Expansion	Added 80,000 SF of exhibit space, total exhibit space after expansion: 223,000 SF	July 2005
Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA	New	56,000 SF of exhibit space	July 2005