A report was recently released detailing the progress made over the last year on the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center, the refurbishing of which could cost as much as $3.7 billion.
Items listed as being completed in 2025 were the public presentation of the completed schematic design and an approval by City Council of the purchase of portions of the former Dallas Morning News campus at $52 million for the “West of Lamar” expansion. Other accomplishments were the existing vertiport’s decommissioning per the FAA approval, progress on the Dallas Memorial Auditorium, the Dallas Wings future home, and The Black Academy of Arts and Letters relocation to the Women’s Museum at Fair Park.
Banner printing services are used for relocations as well as grand openings.
At midyear a $1 billion loan was authorized by City Council for the necessary pre-construction activities and enabling work. Additionally, later in the year an interlocal agreement was made between DART and City Council to close the current station beneath the convention center and redirect service.
January through August 2026 the FIFA’s International Broadcast Center will operate out of Convention Center halls A, B and C.
Just a few minutes from the South Stemmons Freeway, the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center expansion is scheduled to be completed in 2029 and so far, 68 conventions have been booked beyond 2029 and 101 events are, pending final plans, holding dates. Moreover, quite a few groups with an original 2029 target originally have signed multi-year agreements.
