The Texas Convention Center expansion plans include a new $1 billion conference area in Houston; a $3.7 billion expansion at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convertion Center in Dallas; a new $1.6 billion conference center in Austin; and a $701 million upgrade to the Fort Worth Convention Center.
“To fight for large-scale operations at home and outside the state, these cities need to have flexible space, upgrades and sustainability,” said Trevor Mitchell, chairman and CEO of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM). “If the conference centers cannot stay up to date with today’s planners, they will start losing their business.”
Houston begins redevelopment of the conference center
On March 6, Houston became the newest Texas city, announcing the expansion of the city’s main convention center. Michael Heckman, president and CEO of Houston First, the city’s destination management organization, said the 700,000-square-foot expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center is Houston’s largest development.
Plans include a 100,000-square-foot pedestrian plaza that will connect the conference center to the Toyota Center, home to the NBA Houston Rockets.
The project, scheduled to be completed in May 2028, also includes two new exhibition halls with a total area of 150,000 square feet, an 80,000 square feet banquet hall and a 50,000 square feet multi-purpose hall.
The project will be funded by a portion of the hotel occupancy tax, which was approved by the state in 2023. The project will be available to hotels within the radius of the conference center for the next 30 years, with an estimated total of nearly $2 billion.
“Our conference center is 37 years old. Planners are looking for different things today and we need to be modern and flexible,” Heckman said.
As New South Construction works are underway, the existing center will not interrupt business. The cost of multiphase projects is expected to exceed $2 billion.
Dallas expansion to open in 2029
Dallas is expected to expand its $3.7 billion Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in April 2029.
Visit Dallas president and CEO Craig Davis said more than 60 events have been scheduled for 2029 and later.
The construction has begun, with 76,000 square feet to the exhibition hall, double the space in the banquet hall to 170,000 square feet and almost 260,000 square feet of conference room space.
The existing part of the conference center will be the official broadcast center for the FIFA World Cup. From January to the end of July 2028, it will become the headquarters of FIFA’s television, radio and media operations.
A project financing area has been established in the three-mile radius around the conference center. Additional hotel taxes will be estimated to raise $2.2 billion over the next 30 years.
In addition, Dallas voters approved an increase in indoor rates last November, raising $1.5 billion for convention centers and parks, one of the most historic venues in Dallas. As a result, hotel occupancy tax will increase from 13% to 15%.
Austin Convention Center is to be closed for four years
Unlike Houston and Dallas, the Austin Convention Center will begin its Dark Four Years on April 1.
It’s been a long time for a city without a major conference center, but Austin has no choice. Visiting Austin President and CEO Tom Noonan said the city lost 50% of its potential customers due to the lack of space.
“Austin is the 11th largest city in the United States, but currently, we have the 59th largest conference center,” Nonan said. “This new center will allow us to be more competitive in the state and among our major national competitors.”
The new center will include 620,000 square feet of conference space, twice the size of the existing center.
Fort Worth is creating entertainment and conference centers
The Fort Worth Convention Center is also underway for phased expansion and renovation projects. The purpose is to transform the area into an entertainment and convention center.
Construction began in August 2024. Completed in spring 2026. The $95 million project includes a new food and beverage sales store, an additional loading dock and expansion and renovation to the southeast entrance.
The second phase will cost $606 million. It removes the existing arena to add exhibition, conference and banquet hall space.
