![\"Visit](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/PXL_20260306_135043394.jpg\" "\\"Visit")
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Visit Fort Worth\u2019s annual meeting was a send off for the convention center arena and its retiring leader. <\/p>\n
Harrison Mantas<\/p>\n
hmantas@star-telegram.com<\/p>\n
In one of the last major events in the Fort Worth Convention Center \u201cFlying Saucer\u201d before its demolition, Visit Fort Worth\u2019s annual meeting featured plenty of memories from the arena\u2019s glory days.<\/p>\n
From videos showing concert footage of Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson to a live band playing renditions of songs by the Beastie Boys and Marvin Gaye, Friday\u2019s meeting served as a send-off for both the arena and Visit Fort Worth\u2019s outgoing CEO Bob Jameson.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would only get up this early for Bob Jameson,\u201d Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker joked in remarks ahead of Jameson\u2019s annual address.<\/p>\n
Parker highlighted Jameson\u2019s 41-year career in the hospitality industry, calling him one of Fort Worth\u2019s greatest visionaries.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe understands more than anyone what makes a strong city that\u2019s built on partnerships and incredibly bold ideas,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Parker also used time in her speech to recognize outgoing Fort Worth school district Superintendent Karen Molinar<\/a> and former Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens<\/a>, who died in February. She called both women key leaders central to the city\u2019s success.<\/p>\n Jameson thanked the gathering for the recognition and called his 13 years at the helm of Visit Fort Worth, \u201can honor and a blessing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe work that our team undertakes is all about you,\u201d Jameson said, speaking to about 1,000 hoteliers, restaurateurs and government leaders in attendance.<\/p>\n \u201cOur responsibility is to promote your exciting endeavors. To tell your stories, and you have provided us with an incredible number of stories to share,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Jameson highlighted a doubling in the number of visitors, jobs, and economic impact from Fort Worth\u2019s hospitality industry over the last decade.<\/p>\n While Jameson noted those milestones are important, he expressed more excitement for what\u2019s coming to the convention center.<\/p>\n Phase one renovations of the new south entrance wrapped up in December. Work on phase two is scheduled to begin in October with demolition of the flying saucer expected sometime in early 2027.<\/p>\n Phase two of the convention center will add 74,000 square feet of exhibit hall space<\/a>, a 40,000 square foot ballroom and double the amount of meeting room space.<\/p>\n It\u2019s expected to cost $700 million, which will be funded by bonds supported by the city hotel taxes, according to the presentation.<\/p>\n \u201cBy 2030, this new convention center will finally reflect the quality that our community deserves,\u201d Jameson said.<\/p>\n Jameson thanked the city for its partnership, and his team at Visit Fort Worth saying their jobs are to make the city a better place through supporting its tourism industry.<\/p>\n