Fort Worth Convention CenterExpansion Overview and Project Restart

Presentation to Fort Worth City CouncilNovember 2, 2021

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Today’s Presentation• Convention Center History• The Need for Expansion• FWCC Expansion Project Phases 3A and 3B• Council Consideration to Utilize ARPA funding for Project Restart of Phase 3A• Proposed Timeline

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FWCC History• 1966 – Construction started on the Tarrant County Convention Center• 1968 – Convention Center Officially Opened• 1983 – Annex Added, Commerce Street Relocated• 1986 – City Leases the Fort Worth/Tarrant County Convention Center • 1997 – City purchased the Fort Worth Convention Center from the County.• 1999 – Two Phased Expansion Started • 2002 – Expansions Completed• 2014 & 2019 – Convention Center Expansion Studies• 2019 – City Council Approval of FWCC Expansion, Phases 3a and 3b• 2020 – Project suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic

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The Original TCCC

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How Fort Worth Compares• Fort Worth Population: 927,720 (12th)

• FWCC Exhibit Hall Space: 227,613 (47th)

• Hotel Rooms Walkable: ~2,500 (not top 25)

• HQ Hotel Room Capacity 614 (not top 25)5

Need for Convention Center Expansion Hunden Strategic Partner Team

Seven Engagements, 2004-2019

• Peer cities have renovated/expanded their convention centers and added walkable or major headquarter hotels

• New hotels in downtown have been immediately absorbed into the market demonstrating pent-up demand

• Group planners continue to be frustrated by facilities and the number of separate hotels required to accommodate larger conventions

• Simultaneous development of 1,000-room convention hotel is recommended

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Phase IICompleted in 2003

Phase I Completed in 2002

History of Expansion/Renovation

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Current Layout

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Expansion RecommendationExhibit Space

Ballroom(s) Meeting Room Space

Meeting Room Divisions

Board Rooms

ConventionHotel 1

(Rooms)

ConventionHotel 2

(Rooms)Current 227,613 28,160 56,961 55 1 614 0Recommended 280,000 60,000 80,000 80 3 1,000 1,000Net New Needed 52,387 88,160 23,039 25 2 386 1,000Existing to be Replaced

45,000 0 25,000 25 0 0 0

Net New to be Constructed

97,387 60,000 48,039 50 2 386 1,000

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Future Expansion – Phase III

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Future Phase III

Floor Plans for Phase III – Exhibit Halls

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Re-Alignment of Commerce St

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Hotel Site

Floor Plans for Phase III - Mezzanine

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Floor Plans for Phase III – Meeting Rooms

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Additional Recommendations• Full Catering Kitchen• 500 Additional Underground Parking Spaces• Straightening of Commerce Street• New Front Door at North End• Design should open to the street and connect better to Sundance Square• Emphasize outdoor features including Water Gardens, Worth Square and

additional terrace spaces• Ensure flexibility of spaces and circulation to support multiple

simultaneous events• Provide a range of food and beverage choices• Reduce costs for exhibitor set-up, utilities and decorating

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Expected Results of Expansion over 10 Years• Convention Center bookings expected to grow from 151 to 292 per

year (94% increase) with conventions specifically increasing from 61 to 83 (36% increase)

• Attendance would grow from 780K to 1.2M (55% increase)• Room nights (corporate, group and leisure) would grow from 650K

to 1.2M (85% increase)

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Phased Approach to Minimize Business Loss• Phase 3A: Annex Demo/Kitchen and Commerce St. Realignment

• Part 1: Full Design of 3A • Part 2: Ballroom level kitchen and demo of south annex• Part 3: Demo of north annex, straightening of Commerce and construction of

new loading docks

• Phase 3B: Northern Expansion and Renovation of Existing • Part 1: Full Design of 3B• Part 2: Demolish Arena• Part 3: Build northern expansion• Part 4: Strategic renovation of existing building & site

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Updated Project Recommendation• Allocate $52M in ARPA funding to re-start Fort Worth Convention Center

Expansion Project• $12M in Infrastructure investments to realign Commerce Street• $40M in Tourism investments to fund Phase 3A

• Funding buys 3 years for the recovery of hospitality taxes to fund Phase 3B (estimated at $400M-$450M)

• Recovery of hospitality taxes to pre-pandemic levels projected by the end of FY 2023• Wait on Phase 3B until revenue streams can support project cost

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Key Dates - Projected• Council Guidance on Restart of Project: November, 2021• Consideration of Project Manager Contract: December, 2021• Consideration of Design Team Selection: June, 2022• Consideration of CMAR Selection: September, 2022• Phase 3A Construction Begins: March, 2023• Phase 3A Project Completion: December, 2024

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Questions/Discussion