Expensive Phoenix Convention Center opens
by The Associated Press on Dec. 26, 2008, under Edge, Local, Special
The new Phoenix convention center
Phoenix officials hope that spending $600 million of taxpayers money on a new convention center will lead to bigger conventions downtown. With its opening Saturday, tourism officials predict the complex will bring $400 million in indirect spending to the region in 2009.
The 569,000-square-foot North Building addition to the Phoenix Convention Center completes a 4 1/2 -year expansion that led to lengthy street closures.
For the first time, visitors can see $3.2 million worth of public art including a huge halo suspended over the Monroe Street entrance.
By tripling the convention space, the center opens Phoenix up to large conventions and events, which can bring tens of thousands of business tourists into the city at once.
Nearly 70 groups are expected in Phoenix for 2009, said Alexandria Van Haren-Pierce, spokeswoman for the center.
The NBA All-Star Game plans to use the convention center for several events in February including the basketball theme park NBA All-Star Jam Session.
Members of the National Rifle Association are expected to bring up to 60,000 attendees to Phoenix in May.
Phoenix began making over the Civic Plaza with the 155,400-square-foot West Building.
The $600 million price tag was split between city bonds and state funding. The tab doesn’t include $18 million in upgrades to the South Building, which Phoenix bankrolled.
The 1985 facility was renovated so that the interior matches the newer North and West buildings.
