This year, Visit Dallas announced approved plans for an expanded 2.5-million-square-foot convention center, to be built adjacent to the existing Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas.
The new facility will include approximately 800,000 square feet of exhibit space and 300,000 square feet of meeting and breakout space, featuring a 160,000-square-foot ballroom. Construction on the estimated $2 billion project is slated to begin in 2024 with completion targeted for 2029.
© Visit Dallas
“This initiative is a game-changer for Dallas and will position our city as a premier large-city convention and meeting destination,” said Craig Davis, president and CEO of Visit Dallas. “The center will anchor a vibrant new Convention Center District that will energize southern Downtown, draw convention attendees, and create spaces locals can enjoy as well.”
The design emphasizes elevated ballrooms with outdoor terraces offering views of the Trinity River and downtown skyline. A welcoming main entry and spacious lobby will provide areas for programming, networking and public events.
Surrounding the new center, the Convention Center District will link Downtown Dallas with nearby entertainment neighborhoods such as the Cedars and the planned Rail District. The district is being planned as a walkable, mixed-use neighborhood with restaurants, retail, hotels and entertainment that will appeal to both residents and visitors and create an authentic urban experience.
© Visit Dallas
“This building and its surrounding development are exactly what meeting planners and clients have been requesting,” said D. Bradley Kent, senior vice president and chief sales officer at Visit Dallas. “Dallas already benefits from two major airports, strong hospitality offerings and competitive labor costs. The new center and district will strengthen our market position and align Dallas with other cities that have modernized their convention infrastructure.”
Officials expect the expanded center to nearly double annual convention and meeting attendance and boost associated economic activity for the city. As the ninth-largest city in the United States and a leading commercial hub in the Southwest, Dallas offers visitors a broad mix of amenities, a central location and convenient access via two major airports.
With 20 distinctive neighborhoods, including the Dallas Arts District—the nation’s largest contiguous arts district—and a variety of major attractions, Dallas provides options for every type of traveler and stands poised to grow its appeal as a top meeting and leisure destination.