LVCC Officials Approve Expansion
Las Vegas Convention Center officials on May 8 approved a plan to invest $890 million to renovate and expand the 48-yearold, 3.2 million-square-foot center, home to the MAGIC Marketplace and other major trade shows.
The renovation will be the first large-scale project undertaken in the center’s history and calls for a 600,000-squarefoot expansion as well as a redesign of the interior and exterior. To boost security of the center and surrounding area, the plan also calls for adding stateof- the-art police and fire substations on the property.
Construction will start later this year and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010.
“The overriding goal of the program is to enhance the customer experience for everyone using this facility. This design improves the functionality, usability and lifespan of our building for decades to come,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president and chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) during a conference announcing the approvals.
Other enhancements will include a new grand lobby, which will connect three halls of the center, and a new meetingroom concourse in the South Hall along with improved signage between the north/south connector and infrastructure upgrades such as technology and electrical throughout the center.
The $890 million budget exceeded previous estimates of $737 million, due to rising construction costs and a few add-ons from a previous conceptual plan. The project will be funded with debt securities and capital funds, said LVCC officials. While Las Vegas remains the top destination for conventiongoers, officials said there was a need to modernize the facility to remain competitive and satisfy the needs of its trade clients such as the International Council of Shopping Centers, which comes to town for its spring convention May 21–23. MAGIC is staged twice a year, with the next show set for Aug. 27–30.
“The MAGIC Marketplace will absolutely benefit from the LVCC’s enhancement program,” said Chris McCabe, vice president of MAGIC International. “MAGIC has worked with the LVCC throughout this process and shared our thoughts on recommended improvements. The expanded meeting-room space will be a great addition to our seminar series and our meeting-room program with the nation’s top retail leaders and buying offices.”—Robert McAllister
