Fort Worth is getting ready to give its downtown convention center a serious glow-up, unveiling plans this week for a sweeping second phase that would wipe out the original 1968 arena and replace it with a glassy, four-story addition. City leaders say the $606 million overhaul is designed to modernize the aging complex, attract larger conventions and keep the building open for business while crews add new exhibit halls, ballrooms and outdoor terraces.
What Phase 2 Would Add
The Phase 2 blueprint replaces the old arena with a new, flexible convention building, wrapped in Texas-inspired finishes that lean on brick, limestone, copper and steel. Outside, the plan calls for a plaza featuring native prairie landscaping and terraces set up for outdoor events.
When it is all done, city officials say the expanded center is expected to offer roughly 257,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, about 61,000 square feet of meeting rooms and around 74,000 square feet of ballroom space. Those figures and design details were presented to the City Council this week, according to Fort Worth Inc.
Timeline And Next Steps
City materials and press coverage outline a long runway for the project. Mobilization for demolition is slated to begin in summer 2026, with the arena's final scheduled event expected in September and demolition planned for early 2027. Project managers have said construction is expected to run through the end of the decade, with Phase 2 targeted for completion by early 2030. Those timing details were shared in council presentations and reported by The Business Press.
Design Team And Builders
The city has stacked a familiar lineup on the design and construction side. Atlanta-based TVS Design is leading the expansion in partnership with Fort Worth firm Bennett Partners, and the construction manager-at-risk team from Phase 1 is expected to roll straight into Phase 2.
City documents list AECOMHunt, Byrne Construction and EJ Smith as construction partners, with Broaddus & Associates overseeing project management. Officials say the convention center will stay operational throughout the build to avoid service disruptions, according to council presentations reported by Fort Worth Inc.
Phase 1 Finished And What Downtown Gets
The city cut the ribbon on the $95 million Phase 1 renovation in December 2025, delivering a new southeast entrance, a terrace, upgraded food and beverage facilities and 11 loading docks. The work also realigned Commerce Street to carve out a site pad for a future convention hotel.
Officials and local outlets have said the upgrades are meant to improve walkability and tighten the convention center's connection to nearby developments such as the Texas A&M Fort Worth campus. Hoodline coverage of the Phase 1 ribbon-cutting noted the completion of that first round of work, while Visit Fort Worth likewise points to Phase 2 beginning in late 2026.
Why It Matters
City leaders say the expansion is designed to nearly double Fort Worth's convention capacity and pump more tourism dollars into nearby hotels, restaurants and other local businesses. Officials report that booking data and client feedback have already pushed meetings into 2030 and beyond, signaling broader ambitions for downtown economic growth.
The unveiling of the Phase 2 plans has drawn coverage on local TV and in print, including a video report by WFAA.
