Across the U.S., cities are making major capital commitments to convention centers as competition for events, visitor spending, and downtown revitalization intensifies. According to industry research, the global meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions market is projected to surpass $1.8 trillion by the early 2030s. North America is set to benefit from the largest share of that amount. At the same time, convention and trade show attendance has rebounded to near pre-pandemic levels and demand for flexible, technology-rich venues with additional amenities continues to grow. Event organizers are increasingly prioritizing destinations that can support larger programs, hybrid formats, and seamless logistics. The demand is pushing municipalities to reinvest in aging facilities, expand capacity, or construct completely new centers.
Public officials are responding with unprecedented funding levels. Large-scale convention center projects now routinely exceed $100 million, with several U.S. markets pursuing expansions in the $500 million to $1 billion range. The investments are not purely about square footage. Cities are chasing measurable economic returns, as convention visitors spend significantly more per trip than leisure travelers and help stabilize year-round hotel occupancy, restaurant traffic, and local employment.
Modernization efforts that incorporate advanced audiovisual systems, improved energy performance, expanded food service capacity, and connections to surrounding hotels and entertainment districts are proving to be critical for winning national and international events.
The following projects highlight how cities of all sizes are positioning themselves for that next wave of demand, creating a steady pipeline of long-term construction opportunities tied to economic development goals, state funding, and dedicated tourism taxes.
Officials in Rochester, New York, recently announced an upcoming project to modernize the city’s Riverside Convention Center. The approximately $60 million effort will be funded through a New York State grant, and the objective will be to strengthen Rochester’s competitiveness with peer cities. Cities that are expanding and upgrading their convention facilities have an obvious competitive advantage when it comes to bringing events, conferences, and other types of programs to their cities.
This project will include a comprehensive renovation of the convention center’s exhibit halls, meeting rooms, and supporting spaces. Upgrades will be made to all interior finishes in the exhibition halls, upgraded acoustics, new lighting and control systems, movable partitions, and enhanced trade show utilities. Similar upgrades are planned for the main ballroom and large meeting rooms to improve flexibility and functionality for a wider range of events. An expansion of the kitchen and food service areas will further support increased event capacity.
Technology will be modernized, and audiovisual infrastructure and live streaming capabilities will be upgraded. High-capacity connectivity to support virtual and hybrid events throughout the building will be installed. Planned exterior improvements include window replacements, roof repairs, and waterproofing measures to improve energy efficiency and increase resilience to severe weather. The center’s bridge connections will be enhanced with accessible skyways that will link the convention center to nearby businesses. Solicitation documents are anticipated to be ready by 2028.
A $93 million expansion and modernization project is planned for the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield, Illinois. The project’s objective will be to improve and enhance the city’s convention and event infrastructure. The surrounding area will be developed with a nearby hotel and other amenities as well. City leaders have expressed a need to offer modernized facilities and increased capacity to make Springfield more attractive to event planners, trade shows, conferences and performances.
Notable components of the project will include expanding the meeting and event space, upgrading the capabilities of the exhibit hall, and installing building systems. Technology systems will be upgraded, and security systems will be improved to enhance the overall experience for event organizers, exhibitors, and attendees. The project is currently in the early stages of design and planning, with efforts also focused on completing funding strategies and phasing the work schedule. Solicitation documents are slated for release in 2028.
Plans are taking shape for a major expansion of the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. The proposed expansion, estimated to cost up to $900 million, represents the first major phase of Project Marvel, a multi-billion-dollar effort to redevelop the city’s downtown sports and entertainment district. Planning documents will call for adding approximately 192,000 square feet of new contiguous exhibit space and expanding the convention center’s exhibit hall footprint to approximately 706,000 square feet. Additionally, the project will deliver new meeting spaces and a large ballroom. The ballroom will be constructed above the exhibit hall and designed with movable walls to support flexible event configurations.
The expansion work will also include new exhibition hall frontage to create opportunities for indoor events to extend into adjacent outdoor public spaces. Plans include a reconfigured River Walk connection that will feature a pedestrian corridor running beneath the expanded facility with meeting rooms on both sides. The project is in the early planning and feasibility phase. Construction could begin as early as 2028, pending final approvals, funding decisions, and project delivery strategy.
City officials in another city named Springfield are also moving forward with plans for a regional convention facility but this city is located in the state of Missouri. The new facility’s objective, like others mentioned in this column, will be designed to strengthen the city’s ability to attract larger conventions, concerts, tournaments, exhibitions, and community events that outgrow existing venues, while also supporting downtown redevelopment and visitor spending.
Early planning envisions a roughly 125,000-square-foot building with a blend of exhibit space, pre-function and lobby areas, a ballroom or other large flexible event hall, and multiple breakout meeting rooms. Support spaces will include catering and serving areas, storage, administrative offices, and other back-of-house functions for operation. Project stakeholders have also identified key logistics needs, including truck access, a dedicated loading dock, and clear circulation paths for attendees, vendors, and exhibitors. The final site footprint, parking approach, and utility needs are still being evaluated as design work advances.
The project’s construction cost is currently estimated at approximately $175 million, with overall funding tied to a proposed hotel/motel tax increase. Solicitations for construction are slated for release in 2027.
For contractors and specialty firms, these projects signal more than isolated projects. They represent a sustained cycle of public investment where timing, partnerships, and early visibility make all the difference. Firms that engage now will be best positioned when these ambitious plans move from vision to vertical construction.
Photo by Canva
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