CHICAGO — The March 2025 edition of Trade Show Executive’s Pardon Our Dust report dives into the details of the 13 convention centers that are actively expanding and the 20 which are working through the development process of potentially adding new space. When combining all ongoing construction, 1,217,619 square feet (sf) of prime exhibit space is currently being built, along with 511,838 sf of meeting space and 336,936 sf of flex space.
The early part of 2025 will feature openings of expansions at two venues as well as one new build cutting the ribbon. In Georgia, the Savannah Convention Center has unveiled its new space just this month, and now houses 200,000 sf of prime exhibit space, 114,000 sf of meeting space and 65,000 sf of flex space. At the end of Q1, Ohio’s Dayton Convention Center plans to debut its new space offerings, with 63,000 sf of prime exhibit space, 35,000 sf of meeting space and 18,000 sf of flex space. In Chula Vista, California, the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Casino will finish construction in May and will have 140,049 sf of prime exhibit space and 52,302 sf of meeting space.
Related. Enhancements and Event Success at the Orange County Convention Center
In the second half of 2025, the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, will open its 80,000 sf meeting space expansion during the summer. The Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center will be done with its project in Q4, which will raise its meeting space to 215,000 sf and flex space to 201,425 sf. The Las Vegas Convention Center has its reconfiguration scheduled to premiere in December and will feature 2,449,337 sf of prime exhibit space once finished. Lastly, Denver’s National Western Complex has a longstanding development planned to open at a to be determined date in 2025, which will give the facility 852,350 sf of prime exhibit space, 24,773 sf of meeting space and 20,000 sf of flex space.
Related. Austin Prepares for Convention Center Closure
Beyond 2025, several construction projects loom on the horizon. The Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati has closed so that the space can be fully reconfigured to feature 104,234 sf of meeting space and 97,996 sf of flex space, planned to be completed in January 2026. Texas’ Pasadena Arena & Convention Center will show off its new 61,000 sf of prime exhibit space and 10,000 sf of meeting space when it opens during summer 2026. Washington’s Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick will also be wrapping up its expansion during summer 2026, with the enlarged facility featuring 81,600 sf of prime exhibit space.
Read the full Pardon Our Dust report in the March issue of TSE Magazine.
Subscribe to receive a copy today at https://tsx.magserv.com/cgi-bin/subscribe.
To submit a venue for consideration in TSE’s Pardon Our Dust report, email Carson Stoolmiller at carsons@tradeshowexecutive.com.
