Dallas released its 2025 convention center master plan year-end review, outlining a year of land acquisitions, design completion and financial performance as the city prepares for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Related
Here’s what to know:
Starting January, the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention halls A, B and C will serve as FIFA’s International Broadcast Center until August.
Breaking News
The revamp of the Dallas convention center could cost up to $3.7 billion.
The report highlights several items completed over the past year. The City Council approved the purchase of large portions of the old Dallas Morning News campus for nearly $52 million, securing the land needed for the “West of Lamar” expansion.
Project teams also reached 100% schematic design, which were publicly presented in March.
Trinity Alliance, selected as the Component 1 Construction Manager at Risk, began pre-construction coordination with the city and its partners.
City Council also approved an interlocal agreement with DART to close the existing station beneath the convention center and reroute service. The DART Board finalized its approval on Dec. 9.
Other 2025 milestones include FAA approval to decommission the existing vertiport, significant design progress on the future Dallas Wings home at the Dallas Memorial Auditorium, and the relocation of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters to the Women’s Museum at Fair Park.
Related
In June, the City Council authorized a $1 billion loan to advance enabling work and pre-construction activities.
Future demand
Visit Dallas has booked 68 conventions beyond 2029, representing more than 1.17 million room nights and $1.75 billion in projected economic impact, according to the news release.
Another 101 events are holding dates pending final plans, potentially adding 1.9 million room nights and $2.9 billion in impact. Many groups originally targeted for 2029 have signed multi-year agreements with Dallas, while Visit Dallas is helping others shift to alternative destinations to avoid the active construction year.
“The city of Dallas and its team remain committed to delivering a world-class, forward-looking convention center,” said on a news release Rosa Fleming, the city’s director of Convention and Event Services.
The expanded convention center is scheduled for completion in 2029.