Many city leaders throughout the U.S. are advancing expansions or major overhauls of their convention centers as competition for large events intensifies and cities chase visitor spending. Notable examples include Houston, where a $2 billion convention-district plan is moving through pre-construction and enabling work; Los Angeles, where council-approved modernization is slated to break ground in September 2025; and Fort Worth, where construction is underway toward an early-2030 completion. Recently completed expansions include Milwaukee’s Baird Center, which opened May 16, 2024, and the Savannah Convention Center, which hosted a grand opening April 30, 2025. San Diego has moved into the financing phase for an expansion, Louisville’s Kentucky Exposition Center is in construction on Phase I, and Honolulu is advancing a significant renovation project scheduled for 2026-2027. The upcoming projects that will launch soon almost all represent efforts to expand and enhance facilities as well as make surrounding landscapes more attractive, efficient, and appealing to event selection committees.
City leaders in Kissimmee, Florida will soon launch a $120 million project to construct a new hotel and convention center. The city will finance and own the $60 million convention center, and private sector developers will invest approximately $60 million in a 300-room hotel within walking distance of the convention center.
The 45,000-square-foot event center will be designed to serve as a regional facility for community gatherings, business events and an entertainment venue to attract visitors. Pre-construction work is expected to begin when site fencing is installed, which is anticipated to be completed in mid-2026. Additional solicitations will follow shortly after that. Plans call for the new facility to be completed by late 2028.
A $125 million renovation project for the Palm Springs Convention Center is being planned. City leaders have already selected a new management firm to operate the facility. The project will modernize meeting rooms, exhibition halls, and nearby facilities. Design plans call for outdoor event space and an indoor/outdoor social area. This project will also be designed to include significant improvements to make it more attractive and competitive – one that can accommodate large-scale national conventions, national association meetings, and major entertainment events.
Updates will include space for local food and beverage kiosks, and also for public art displays. Design started in July 2025, and construction is scheduled to begin in November 2026.
Salt Lake City officials have announced plans to renovate the current convention center at a cost of approximately $1.8 billion. This large initiative is part of the city’s larger downtown redevelopment strategy. When completed, it will deliver a significant economic boost to the entire area. The planned renovation will concentrate on two primary components — exhibit hall upgrades and infrastructure improvements. Planned enhancements to the exhibit hall include modernizing interior design, reconfiguring the building layout to improve functionality, and adding a second ballroom to expand event capacity. Infrastructure improvements will focus on replacing aging mechanical, electrical, and IT systems to ensure long-term efficiency and reliability. The project will also deliver a new below-grade tunnel connecting the facility with neighboring municipal buildings. Beyond these core elements, the renovation project will also deliver an energy-efficient design feature to reduce the facility’s environmental footprint.
The project has entered the design phase, and construction is slated to begin in 2027.
City officials in Nashville, Tennessee plan to invest approximately $623 million in a project to significantly expand the Music City Center. In fact, when the project is completed, the building’s size will be expanded by more than half. The convention facility currently stands at approximately 517,000 square feet, and the project will add an additional 300,000 square feet of space. Planning documents call for an enhanced exhibit hall, a larger ballroom and additional meeting rooms. Design considerations feature a variety of new technology infrastructure, including robust Wi-Fi capacity. Plans also call for new support areas such as kitchens, circulation corridors, and storage to replace aging infrastructure.
The construction start date has not been determined, although city officials are targeting late 2026 for the project’s launch.
The Alliant Energy Center Campus in Madison, Wisconsin is set for a $125 million renovation and expansion of its convention center. Plans include expanding the existing exhibition halls with two new additions—one on each side of the facility. The expansion will provide space for new meeting rooms, banquet facilities, more exhibition space, and a large kitchen. Other areas will be renovated to modernize technical and mechanical systems.
The entire facility will receive sustainability upgrades, including a potential fully geo-thermal mechanical system and solar panels on the roofs. Additional projects are planned to improve the full campus and surrounding areas, but details and cost estimates have not been finalized yet for that additional effort. The project is currently in the design development phase with construction solicitations to follow in 2026.
City officials in Corpus Christi, Texas have announced plans to modernize and expand its multipurpose arena and convention center. The $193 million project will focus on three main objectives. The convention center will be enlarged, improvements will be made to the arena, and upgrades are planned for the surrounding cultural venues. Planned enhancements to the convention center include the addition of a large new ballroom, a redesigned main entrance, and upgraded meeting areas. The arena improvements will deliver new modernizing premium seating areas, updated interior features, and upgraded building systems. Other nearby cultural venues will undergo renovations to enhance accessibility and overall functionality.
While the project remains in the design stage, officials are hoping to begin construction in late 2026 or early 2027.
Many types of services will be required for each project of this type, especially considering the size, scale and competitive nature of convention center projects. Some projects may include opportunities for engineering, construction, advanced technology, upgraded heating and cooling equipment, safety enhancements, internal design elements and more. Timing is perfect for interested parties to contact organizers in these cities.
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