The past two months have delivered a clear message: America’s convention centers are in the midst of their biggest transformation in decades. More than $10 billion in new projects and expansions were announced or advanced between September and November 2025, driven by the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and fierce inter-city competition for major trade shows and conventions.
Texas Dominates with Over $7.8 Billion in Active Projects
• Dallas – The $3.7 billion master-planned redevelopment of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center is fully underway. When complete in 2029, it will add 2+ million sq ft of new space, a rooftop park, and serve as the International Broadcast Center for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
• Houston – The $2 billion George R. Brown Convention Center redevelopment broke ground in October. Phase I (opening May 2028) delivers Texas’ largest ballroom, bayou-inspired green atriums, and full LEED Platinum certification. The district is expected to generate $20 billion in economic impact over 30 years.
• Austin – City Council green-lit the $1.6 billion expansion on October 23 after intense public debate. The new center will be the world’s first zero-carbon certified convention facility of its size, featuring 620,000 sq ft of rentable space and open-air terraces overlooking Lady Bird Lake.
West Coast & Midwest Fight Back
• Los Angeles – The L.A. Convention Center unveiled its $1.2 billion modernization plan in September, including a dramatic new glass façade and 350,000 sq ft expansion timed for the 2028 Olympics.
• Las Vegas – The $1.5 billion Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall Phase II began construction in early November, adding another 1.2 million sq ft and solidifying Vegas’ title as the nation’s largest contiguous exhibit space.
• Chicago – McCormick Place secured $500 million in state funding for sustainability upgrades, including the largest rooftop solar array on any U.S. convention center (completion slated for late 2027).
The Anaheim Convention Center was named “Best Convention Center in North America” for the third consecutive year at the 2025 ExhibitorLive Awards, while the newly renovated Oregon Convention Center in Portland took home “Most Sustainable Renovation of the Year.”
The Bigger Picture
These investments are about far more than square footage. Cities are racing to blend convention centers into walkable urban districts, prioritize sustainability, and future-proof against shifting attendee expectations post-pandemic. With bookings already surging for 2026–2030, the message is unmistakable: America’s convention industry isn’t just recovering—it’s reinventing itself on a grand scale.
The great American convention center arms race is officially on.