7 replies to this topic

[BigBingFan]

I noticed recently in the local rag about the Convention-Tourist Bureau saying Fort Worth is losing lots of larger Convention business due to lack of hotel space.  I think back to the days when a proposed Hotel was in the planning, with a signature revolving restaurant and a beam of light shooting skyward.  Now, fast forward to now;  "they" say 1,000 more rooms are needed to not lose Convention business to Portland, and other comparably-sized cities.  Anyone know who would be courted or might be rumored, and anyone know if the Convention/Tourist Bureau has any info. that could be posted here?  I'd be curious to know if on the other side of downtown, if any other Hotels are proposed/planned?  But my main focus and question is on the Convention Center area................

 

Additionally, that Convention Center Arena is archaic, much like the old Dallas Convention Center.  For the LIFE OF ME, I cannot figure out why the Dickies Arena was designed to be built so far away from Downtown. Of course, I had hopes at one time to draw maybe an NBA Team, or some other Pro Team........but a 14,000-seater won't do it----IF it was built to draw potential/future venues or Teams, it needed to be 17,000+  Oh well, just dreaming of a Pro Team to play Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. I know Dickies already has the NCAA Basketball scheduled, but it could have been more.

 

I'll relent now and hope for some informed comments.........or uninformed, for that matter. 

[Austin55]

We are absolutely lacking in hotel rooms. I mentioned in another thread recently that last week (3/5-3/9) was completely sold out in DT due to a couple large conventions and probably some spring break crowds as well. We have a decent supply of smaller hotels but only 2 that are capable of setting aside large blocks or rooms and that contain their own large meeting spaces, The Omni and The Worthington. Only one of those is adjacent to the Convention Center. DT currently has 2,750ish hotel rooms with 1,200ish in the pipeline. Compare that to say Nashville which has 3,500 under construction 

 

The convention center's primary draw is conventions who need exhibit space, which is not suitable for an arena layout. In the coming years and after Dickies is complete the CC arena will be demolished and replaced with more flat, open space and meeting rooms. You can read up on what those plans might look like here.

 

Dickies Arena is really being built as an addition to the Will Rogers Complex. It's likely a majority of the events there will be equestrian or rodeos and such. It has the double benefit of being able to host concerts, circuses, etc, things that used to be more predominant at the CC arena, but have mostly left due to the buildings antiquated design. It was never intended to lure pro teams, but to fill a gap below the AAC (along with supplementing WRMC events) It's killing two birds with one stone, essentially. And by making the CC arena redundant, it will allow the demo of it to build more exhibit space. 

[BigBingFan]

Austin, I am a newbie here, and ask basic questions. I am a long-time, cradle Fort Worthian, who used to bug the Chamber of Commerce about new buildings, and would snail-mail all the cities about their tall buildings, etc..........so I don't have a technical knowledge, just what I have heard. This is my first question/topic, and sometimes don't know the abbreviations/acronyms. Bear with me.........I appreciate the link about what the CC arena might look like.  Sure wish we had a downtown arena though.  And about 3 more 40 story hotels.

[John T Roberts]

BigBingFan, we appreciate that you are asking questions. 

[BigBingFan]

Mine is not having a background in economic impact studies, architecture, etc....but as a concerned citizen, who sees Frisco, Arlington, Austin, etc. getting many primo venues, buildings, etc.........so, thank you for letting me participate.

[Dylan]

Five hotel developers were interested in building a new 1,000 room hotel a few years ago. The city asked two of the developers for proposals. The developers wanted to know when the expansion would be built, and how much tax incentive money they would receive. The city was broke and couldn't answer those questions, so the developers backed off.

 

Thread (see post 121) - http://www.fortworth...pic=5240&page=3

 

http://www.star-tele...le67389842.html

[Urbndwlr]

Anyone know:

 

A) Generally what is the maximum (realistic) size of a convention (# of attendees) the existing FWCC can accommodate currently?

B ) Same question under expansion scenario. 

 

I didn't see those in the Exec Summary document.

[Austin55]

Can't speak for the future but A-Kon had 33,000 attendees last year.