The LA Convention Center will be joining dozens across the country who have expanded, modernized and upgraded, going from typical to transformed. The last major expansion at the center was in 1997.
Last week, the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve the LA Convention Center (LACC) Expansion and Modernization Project, underscoring the city’s commitment to maintaining its status as a world-class destination with a thriving tourism industry.
This public infrastructure investment will create more than 15,000 jobs, add $652 million in general fund tax revenue over 30 years and draw in over $150 million in additional visitor spending each year.
“I want to thank the Mayor and the City Council for their bold leadership and commitment to this legacy project that will make the Convention Center a premier destination for decades to come,” said Doane Liu, Chief Tourism Officer and Executive Director of the L.A. City Tourism Department in a media announcement. “This decision is the result of years of work with our City leaders and departments and I’m proud of the tremendous effort put into this project.”
Immediate and Long-Term Benefits
This project will spur much-needed economic growth in the region. Local businesses, especially in Downtown LA, are dependent on direct and indirect spending from the LACC. This vote immediately helps local hotels as new bookings for the LACC will be confirmed for the upgraded space. It also signals to investors, developers, local businesses and major industries that the City is committed to building a more prosperous future as a global leader and the chosen destination for organizations and associations to convene.
Los Angeles has been at a competitive disadvantage in attracting large, citywide conventions due to the lack of contiguous space, especially as competitors have completed or are in the process of completing major expansions.
The new construction will connect the two existing South and West Exhibit Halls by adding 190,000 sf of space to create one contiguous hall with over 750,000 sf, and will add 39,000 sf of new meeting room space and 95,000 sf of multipurpose space.
“An expanded and modernized Convention Center will transform the landscape of Downtown Los Angeles for following generations,” said Kimberly Weedmark, General Manager of the LA Convention Center. “This is an incredibly exciting time for Los Angeles!”
Weedmark also lauded the teams who will be heading up design and development—AEG, Plenary Group, Webcor, PCL and Populous, a group of partners seeing the project through to construction.
“On behalf of the entire team at Los Angeles Tourism, we are incredibly grateful that the City Council has voted to advance the modernization of the Los Angeles Convention Center,” Adam Burke, President & CEO, Los Angeles Tourism remarked to the press. “As one of the most powerful yet often unseen drivers of LA’s tourism economy, meetings and events generate billions of dollars annually for Los Angeles… As we look ahead to historic years on the horizon, and as the global spotlight on Los Angeles intensifies, we know the Los Angeles Convention Center will play an even more vital role in shaping our city’s future while continuing to welcome guests from around the globe.”
Groundbreaking on the expansion is set for early October 2025, and construction will begin shortly thereafter. Utilizing a phased approach, construction will be paused for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Final project completion is anticipated in May 2029.
View a video with renderings of the project here.
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