Fort Worth Convention Center Expansion

Address

1201 Houston Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102

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Details

Planning Phase

Feasibility studies in 2014 and 2019 show that Fort Worth’s overall growth has not been reflected in its convention and hotel growth. It is not representative for a city of our current and future population. Hotels built over the last decade Downtown have been immediately absorbed into the market, a sign of pent-up demand. The Fort Worth Convention Center expansion calls for demolishing the arena, straightening Commerce Street, building a 1,000-room hotel, and adding significantly more exhibit hall and ballroom space.

The City Council has appointed a group of diverse community members to help kick-start the expansion of the Fort Worth Convention Center, a move that would allow the facility to compete with convention centers in other cities.

This Design Review Committee will recommend a project management firm and an architect of record for the project. Committee members will also seek input on the project, including current and potential conventions and meeting customers.

The convention center project will be funded through hotel occupancy taxes and fees generated by the use of the building. The estimated budget is $400-$500 million. The project budget will be scaled to stay within revenues from these sources.

A first phase could expand Commerce Street for hotel development and construction of new kitchen and catering facilities. Phase two includes the demolition of the 52-year-old convention center arena and new construction.

With the expanded convention center, bookings are expected to grow from 151 to 292 per year, a 94% increase, with conventions specifically increasing from 61 to 83. Attendance is expected to grow from 780,000 per year to 1.2 million, a 55% increase.

Design Review Committee members: Mayor Betsy Price, Mayor pro-tem Jungus Jordan, District 9 Councilwoman Ann Zadeh, Leah King, Bob Jameson, Jarred Howard, Ed Bass, Sasha Bass, Jay Chapa, Andy Taft, Bobby Ahdieh, Richard Casarez, Glenn Forbes, Johnny Campbell, Joseph DeLeon, Randy Gideon, Martha Peters, Adrian Parr, Anette Landeros, Jonathan Morris, Gloria Starling, Bob Benda, Lanny Lancarte.