Las Vegas, NV – The Mandalay Bay Convention Center’s exhibit space will be significantly expanded as part of a $66 million renovation.
MGM Resorts International said the project will add 350,000 square feet (sf) of exhibit space by the end of next year, including a 70,000 sf ballroom, as well as expanded parking and various upgrades to the existing building. If the project keeps to its timetable, within 16 months, Mandalay will offer 1,284,731 sf of exhibit space, pushing it well into the ranks of TSE’s Millionaire’s Club of exhibition centers with more than 1 million sf of prime space.
“Several long-standing customers approached us with a need for additional space,” said Chuck Bowling, president and COO of Mandalay Bay. “In addition to enabling our current clients to develop larger events, the additional space and new flexibility will allow us to attract new business to Las Vegas.”
Mandalay Bay currently provides show organizers with 934,731 square feet (sf) of prime exhibit space, placing it at No. 11 nationwide on the Trade Show Executive (TSE) World’s Top Convention Centers (WTCC) rankings. The pending addition places Mandalay Bay into the bigger leagues and will rank No. 6 on the WTCC rankings with nearly 1.3 million sf of exhibit space.
The move will also tighten up the standings of the major Las Vegas venues. The Las Vegas Convention Center is third on the WTCC with 1,940,631 sf of prime space. Sands Expo & Convention Center stands in fifth place with 1,305,052 sf of space. All three buildings offer extensive meeting room space as well.
The news was received positively by trade show organizers. “We are very pleased with the decision to expand and expect to take advantage of the new space as soon as it’s complete,” said David Loechner, CEO of Emerald Expositions, which runs 13 annual shows in Las Vegas, including four events at Mandalay Bay.
With the 70,000 sf ballroom, which is divisible by five, the new space also provides more flexibility and breakout areas for corporate groups.
Increased bandwidth will accommodate more attendees and allow the most advanced presentations. Other features will include new carpeting and additional parking which will be underground and out of the reach of southern Nevada’s sizzling Summer sun.
The construction will be up to LEED Gold standards or better. Mandalay Bay and the Mandalay Bay Convention Center earned Five Key ratings from the Green Key Eco-Rating and Meetings Programs, and Gold awards from TripAdvisor’s GreenLeaders Program. Mandalay Bay recycles more than 80% of all convention material, offering sustainable serviceware and organic, sustainable menus and zero waste.
The expanded convention center at Mandalay Bay will incorporate an additional rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) array making it the largest convention center array in the world. The anticipated size of the array is approximately 1.9MWdc with an approximate annual production of 3.4M kilowatt hours. The previously announced 6.2MWdc solar PV array on the current convention center is slated for completion in August; the combined array will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 1,300 homes.
Work on the project begins in the Fall. MGM said the new exhibit space would be available by August 2015 and the entire project would be finalized by January 2016.
Reach Chuck Bowling at (702) 632-7777 or cbowling@mandalaybay.com; David Loechner at (949) 226-5700 or david.loechner@emeraldexpo.com
