The $126 million expansion of the 25 year old Charlotte Convention Center was completed recently by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority(CRVA). The expansion project which began in fall of 2019, added an additional 50,000 square feet of meeting and event space to the already existing 280,000 square feet building which houses exhibition spaces, ballrooms, meeting rooms and other spaces.
The expansion of the Charlotte Convention Center was carried out vertically and now this newly completed building has an additional 50,000 square feet space, which includes both meeting room and pre-function spaces. This extra space provides 14 more meeting rooms in addition to the previous 41 rooms. The Convention Center also features two flexible 10,000-square-foot spaces, which can be restructured in 19 different ways to serve the needs, capacity and requirements of the clients; and a pedestrian bridge, connecting the center to the Westin Hotel right across the street.
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Charlotte Convention Center expansion project to offer increased capacity for conventions
According to the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, the expansion and enhancement of the Charlotte Convention Center through increased capacity, accessibility and provision of flexible spaces, would put Charlotte on the map as the most sought-after City in the Southeast for meetings, conventions, trade shows and sporting events. The CRVA also believe that the high construction costs are worth the economic impact and they stated that the center brought in about $255 million in direct visitor spending, before the pandemic.
The CEO of the CRVA, Tom Murray, spoke on the relevance of the Charlotte Convention Center and how it would be utilized effectively. Murray mentioned that convention center is a valuable community asset which would assist in raising the national and international awareness of Queen City and also serve in positioning Charlotte as a choice destination for meetings and events.
Mayor Vi Lyles also praised the Charlotte Convention Center expansion project. Lyles said, “We know Charlotte is a special place, and what this space does is gives us a chance to show new people who are interested in Charlotte why this is a place to come.”
