In a nutshell
During the presentation, representatives from Populous and CSL—two companies hired to conduct the study—discussed potential design options as well as the financial impact.
The first option suggests expanding on the underutilized western wing of the convention center, and the other suggests stacking floors on top of one another. The representatives of the companies who conducted the study suggested the first option because stacking floors would require shutting down a large portion of the convention center during the estimated two-to-three-year-long construction phase.
Recommended option for the expansion includes:
- 20,900-square-foot meeting rooms
- A 21,000-square-foot kitchen
- A 77,500-square-foot ballroom
- Two meetings rooms totaling 42,400 square feet at the Riverwalk level
- Interactive digital signs, which can generate additional revenue
This option would also include an entryway to the Civic Park and the Riverwalk, allowing for better pedestrian access.
By the numbers
Part of the reasoning for the expansion is due to other cities across Texas expanding and updating their own convention centers.
“If [San Antonio] does nothing, we are looking at a 10% decrease [in revenue] by the time the other convention space in Texas opens,” the representative from CSL said.
Stay tuned
The city will continue the process of exploring how to expand and upgrade the convention center.
Next steps of expansion planning include:
- Proceed with due diligence and planning for convention center expansion
- Continue feasibility and business case for an expansion up to 200,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space
- Stakeholder engagement
- Develop preliminary funding analysis
- Explore procurement strategies
- Propose procurement timeline
