America’s Center Convention Complex Will Update and Expand

April 23, 2019

America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis is about to get a major makeover. On April 16, the St. Louis City Council joined the City of St. Louis’ Board of Aldermen in approving the AC Next Gen Project, an estimated $175 billion plan that will update, modernize and expand the multi-venue complex to ensure its place as an economic and employment driver for the region. 

The ACCC currently comprises the 42-year-old Cervantes Convention Center, St. Louis Executive Conference Center, The Dome at America’s Center and Ferrara Theater.

Proposed last fall, the project will include the addition of 92,000 square feet of expo space; a 65,000-sq-ft. multi-purpose ballroom and meeting area with 20,000 sq. ft of pre-function space; a new outdoor pavilion and 26 loading docks. A construction timeline for the project has yet to be determined.  

The need to expand has reached an urgent level as competition increases from convention centers across the country making sizable investments to lure lucrative meetings and events to their communities, according to city officials.

“We are pleased that the community has come together to support this critical project,” said Kathleen “Kitty” Ratcliffe, president of Explore St. Louis. “At present, America’s Center’s prominence and value to the region are threatened because its amenities have not kept pace.”

In the last decade, major cities in St. Louis’ competitive landscape have either built a new facility, such as Nashville’s $623 million new Music City Center, or have made major improvements to existing venues, such San Antonio’s $325 million enhancements to the Henry B. González Convention Center, Ratcliffe added.

ACCC

Upon completion, the enhancements are expected to stabilize the Complex’s current decline in event bookings, potentially creating nearly 36 percent growth, according to the most recent estimates by Johnson Consulting, which worked with the city to assess the need for an expansion project.

“We’ve been hearing from customers for a number of years that the America’s Center Convention Complex needs a larger ballroom, additional loading docks and more exhibit space, as many of the cities we compete with for business have been investing heavily into their facilities,” explained Anthony Paraino, director of communications for Explore St. Louis. “The AC Next Gen project will make us more competitive and help us deliver on the needs of our clients.”

ACCC hosts roughly 100 events annually with more than 600,000 attendees and 300,000 hotel room nights. This generates $265 million of new direct economic spending for the community, according to Johnson Consulting.

Through the support of legislation proposed by elected officials in St. Louis City and St. Louis County, the project will be funded completely by an extension of payments from the designated fund set up through hotel and motel taxes.

Learn more details about the preliminary AC Next Gen project here.

 

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Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas  Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.   Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.