Despite the four-hour briefing given to the Dallas City Council on Wednesday, one question remains about the plans for a new convention center downtown: exactly how much the sprawling complex will cost.
Right now, city officials believe the new and improved Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center will cost between $3.3 billion and $3.5 billion. That estimate has a cushion built in for contingencies or roadblocks, such as the impact tariffs may have on construction costs, Rosa Fleming, director of event and convention services, told the council. She added that because tariffs pose a threat to costs, stakeholders are looking to pre-order large amounts of steel and materials needed for the project to avoid price escalation.
The horseshoe was presented with a model of the future convention center Wednesday morning. Glitzy renderings displayed impeccable landscaping, multi-story glass paneling and rooftop views of the Dallas skyline. It is the most in-depth look at the development since City Hall began discussing the need for an updated space in 2018…