AUSTIN, Texas — A lawsuit questioning Austin city officials’ decision to move forward with the expansion of the downtown convention center has reached a resolution after a judge sided with the city.
The Austin United PAC filed a lawsuit against the city in December 2025 claiming that the city clerk unlawfully rejected their petition that would have prompted a vote on the expansion of the Austin Convention Center.
Mayor Kirk Watson’s office sent the following statement to Spectrum News regarding the ruling:
“This is a good win for Austinites. Our City Clerk handled this matter professionally and I appreciate that professionalism. Plus, the expansion of our convention center is important to our city’s future. It serves as a focal point of our important and thriving tourism industry. I’m pleased that we are looking at a bright future.”
Despite the outcome, Natalie Crowe, an organizer with the Austin United PAC, said the organization isn’t giving up.
“While we are disappointed with the court’s decision, we’re not giving up the fight! Our legal team is reviewing all possible options for next steps, and we’re in a strategic planning phase for the campaign’s future. The convention center project is a $5 Billion mistake the city can’t afford. Austinites deserve a group that fights to preserve their economic and cultural interests, and we will keep working towards that goal,” Crowe said in a statement sent to Spectrum News.