New convention center would make Dallas more competitive, consultant says
Dallas needs to build a new convention center to be competitive with other cities around the country, a consultant and city staff said on Tuesday.
The downtown Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, which was built in 1957, doesn’t have enough rooms, modern updates or surrounding amenities to allow the city to draw the most lucrative events, the consultant and city staff say.
Their solution? Build a new one for $1.9 billion.
But first they need the City Council’s approval.
The city hired WSP USA Inc., an engineering and design firm, in January for about $5 million to plan a 10-year redevelopment for the convention center on South Griffin Street and surrounding area from the Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station on the west to the Dallas Farmers Market.
Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/12/08/new-convention-center-would-make-dallas-more-competitive-consultant-says/
In the wake of the pandemic, will there be a need for more convention space and ancillary services? Dallas is a site for conventions because of its centralized location in the country, not because it is a destination site with tourist attractions.
Is anyone surprised the engineering and design firm recommended the most expensive option for replacing the convention center? There is an obvious conflict of interest that accompanies that recommendation.
In addition, the current convention center is supposed to the hub of the northern end of the of the proposed high-speed rail between Houston and Dallas. That hub will provide relatively easy access to the DART bus and rail services. Moving the convention center from the transportation hub will have a negative impact on convention related businesses and the hotels that are located nearby.