With an eye towards the 2028 Olympics, the Los Angeles City Council voted on Tuesday to advance a $54 million undertaking designed to broaden the Los Angeles Convention Center, as reported by CBS News Los Angeles. The proposal champions additional space for the center’s exhibit hall, meeting rooms, and a multipurpose space, signaling a major step in a project that has been a talking point for over a decade. While approved by a 13-1 vote, concerns over the tight timeline and the feasibility of completing the work have been voiced by council members.
The Convention Center, constructed in 1971 and slated to house events such as boxing and table tennis during the Summer Olympics, is at the heart of this renovation and expansion initiative. However, the challenge lies in whether, after beginning pre-construction assessments, it can be determined that these upgrades are practical within the set timeframe. Should the findings indicate otherwise, the option to cancel the project remains on the table. Councilman Curren Course, standing for the interests of South L.A. neighborhoods and the Convention Center, through the lens of a decade-long discussion, highlighted the dual boon of architectural enhancement and economic growth. "Not only will L.A. have a world-class Convention Center that we can be proud of just in time for the world stage, but it's also going to bring thousands of jobs — permanent and temporary jobs," he told City News Service.
According to plans, this substantial expansion won't lead to the demolition of any current structures. Instead, it will seamlessly join some existing buildings, tacking on 190,000 square feet for exhibitions, 55,000 square feet for meetings, and another 95,000 square feet purposed for various events. Central City Association President and CEO Nella McOsker called the council's decision momentous, tagging the project as one that will "spur growth for the local and regional economy."
A peculiarity of the project’s funding is its private-public partnership feature, involving the Anschutz Entertainment Group, which operates the current Convention Center, and the Plenary Group development firm. If the Convention Center project is doggedly pursued and found to be applicable, the city will bear the fiscal torch of construction costs. However, as City News Service highlighted, the monetary burden is expected to reduce to approximately $43 million annually for the city, courtesy of projected new generated revenue streams through business, sales, parking and hotel taxes, as well as advertising revenue from digital signage.
Engendering a time-sensitive quest, the tight project timeline has positioned the council at the threshold of difficult decisions and ambitious pursuits. With thousands of jobs anticipated during construction and thereafter, plus an estimated half-million increase to yearly convention attendee numbers, the city's push for a forward-facing, versatile convention space seems to be a calculated gamble aimed at both urban enhancement and economic vitality—all eyes trained on the glimmering prize of the 2028 Olympics.
