Elected officials, business leaders and construction crews attended the topping-out ceremony Thursday as the tallest structural steel beam was hoisted into place in Phase 1 of the ongoing Fort Worth Convention Center expansion project.
Speakers at the ceremony celebrating this major project milestone included Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Public Events Director Mike Crum, Visit Fort Worth Chairman Brian Newby and City Councilwoman Elizabeth Beck.
“Today is an exciting milestone as we continue to build on the success of our local tourism economy,” said Parker. “The Fort Worth Convention Center expansion is more than just a construction project, it is a central part of Fort Worth’s vision for a vibrant, economically strong future. The expanded convention center will provide more capacity to host conferences from across the country and strengthen our already impressive convention and tourism industries.”
The project focuses on pedestrian access and improving the area’s walkability and connection to the surrounding neighborhood, which includes hotels, the Water Gardens, the new Texas A&M Fort Worth campus and the recently opened Deco 969 residential tower, officials said in a news release.
The expansion project will be completed in two phases and the facility will remain operational during both phases. The $95 million, 75,000-square-foot Phase I includes construction of a new grand southeast entrance, state-of-the-art food and beverage facilities, demolition of the 1980s addition to dual loading docks, and realignment of Commerce Street to create a site for a future convention hotel.
Phase I of the expansion is scheduled for completion in 2026. Phase II, estimated to cost $606 million, is in the planning and design phase. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 and last until early 2030.
The convention center expansion is part of the city’s larger economic development strategy to attract conventions from across the state and the country, officials said. Tourism is a $3.3 billion industry for Fort Worth and one of its largest employers, creating more than 30,000 jobs.
“The expansion of our convention center means more opportunities for local businesses and job creation,” said Bob Jameson, president and CEO of Visit Fort Worth. “The word is out about Fort Worth and this center will allow us to meet the growing demand for meetings in our city.”
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About the Fort Worth Convention Center
The Fort Worth Convention Center & Arena was originally built by Tarrant County and is also owned by the county. Since 1968, it has hosted thousands of major national and international events, including sporting events, concerts, political rallies, conventions and trade shows. The city acquired the convention center in 1997 and the facility was significantly expanded in 2003. With a total area of nearly 37,000 square feet, the complex is the premier event venue in downtown Fort Worth. For more information, visit the center’s website.
