“A new convention center will be a welcome addition to our thriving downtown that is busting with concerts, college sports, restaurants, bars and local shops, says Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. “The convention center will infuse even more energy into our community, attracting visitors, boosting local businesses and enhancing our residents’ quality of life.”
Bostar says two immediate goals for the group will be to select a consultant to assist with the process and to identify the governing structure of the project. “We are hoping to complete the process of identifying a site and getting through the preliminary pre-construction work next year.”
Request for Letters of Interest for prospective site locations have been issued. A previous Sports & Leisure study in 2021 and 2022 identified five suggested sites in the downtown area for a convention center.