Communities recognize that their area convention centers serve not just as meeting spaces, but also as key drivers of tourism and economic development for their region. As a result, many cities and states are making substantial investments in their convention facilities to ensure these spaces have the modern amenities needed to keep attendees coming back.
With recently completed renovations or planned upgrades underway, these six convention centers are primed to welcome groups to state-of-the-art, freshly redesigned meeting venues that promise to deliver an elevated visitor experience.
Kentucky Exposition Center
Louisville, Kentucky
In the heart of Louisville, Kentucky, with easy access to downtown as well as the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport and the Interstate 65 and Interstate 264 interchanges, the Kentucky Exposition Center has long been a popular site for meetings, events and conventions. The facility currently features over 1.2 million square feet of indoor exhibit space, including 56 flexible meeting rooms, multiple exhibit wings and two arenas.
Construction is underway at the center on a brand-new, 350,000-square-foot multipurpose building — now accepting bookings for 2027 and beyond — that will become the largest Class A exhibit space on the property. Covering roughly the size of six football fields, the $180 million phase 1 expansion will position the Kentucky Exposition Center as the fifth-largest convention center in the U.S.
The new facility sits in the footprint of a now-demolished hall that was primarily used for livestock sales. It will be equipped to host unique experiences such as livestock competitions, equine events and sporting tournaments, as well as more traditional trade shows and conventions.
Planned renovations in phase 2, totaling $213 million and scheduled for completion around December 2028, will redevelop the Exposition Center’s West Wing, West Hall and Pavilion into a 249,000-square-foot multipurpose wing and enhance food and beverage operations in the center’s South Wing.
As part of the upgrades, the facility will also receive updates to its heating, cooling and electrical systems and to its wayfinding signage. New restrooms will include added accessibility features.
“We have between 5 million and 6 million people, depending on the year, come through our doors annually,” David Beck, president and CEO of Kentucky Venues, said of the property. “We want people to feel as welcomed and as comfortable here as possible.”
Fort Worth Convention Center
Fort Worth, Texas
In December 2025, the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, unveiled the results of a $95 million renovation to the facility, including installation of a grand new southeast entrance and terrace, state-of-the-art food and beverage facilities, a retail coffee bar for casual networking, and 11 new loading docks. The project also realigned nearby Commerce Street to create a site pad for future hotels, retail or restaurants.
And that was just the first phase. Design plans were recently unveiled for the $606 million second phase of the convention center expansion, scheduled for completion by early 2030. The upgrades will replace the convention center’s 1960s-era existing arena with a new four-story, glass-fronted structure that will more than double the current facility’s available meeting room space. Plans also call for the construction of a new public green space adjacent to the convention center.
Once finished, the expanded and modernized facility will feature a total of more than 250,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, more than 66,500 square feet of meeting room space, and roughly 70,000 square feet of ballroom space, including an entirely new, 40,000-square-foot ballroom, the largest in Fort Worth. The upgrades will also include 16 loading docks, easing groups’ entry and exit from the facility and enhancing the site’s ability to host multiple events simultaneously. The convention center will remain open during construction.
Phase 2 “will modernize the footprint of not only our entire building, but the 14 square blocks of downtown where the center resides,” said Cynthia Sanchez Serrano, the Fort Worth Convention Center’s director of public events and general manager. “From a functionality perspective, this will benefit both large and small groups who choose Fort Worth for their meeting destination.”
fortworth.com/convention-center
Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu
Scheduled for completion in January 2028, planned upgrades to the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu will transform the facility just in time for its 30th anniversary. The $87 million project, which broke ground in January 2026, will create a reimagined, 95,000-square-foot rooftop plaza; add a performance stage and outdoor seating; and modernize the facility’s mechanical systems, signage, roofing and other key infrastructure.
The performance stage will include a 38,000-square-foot canopy for rain and shade protection, creating year-round opportunities to host open-air events.
The renovation marks the first major update to the Hawaii Convention Center since it opened in 1998. The facility currently has 1.1 million square feet of meeting space, including an exhibit hall, a 35,000-square-foot ballroom, and several meeting rooms and tiered-seating theaters.
Located just 8 miles from the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and serving as a gateway to Waikiki’s resort district, the convention center sits within 1.5 miles of 30,000 hotel rooms and an array of shopping, dining and entertainment options.
“The revitalized spaces will honor the Hawaii Convention Center’s iconic open-air island ambiance that resonates with both visitors and kama‘āina [locals],” said Hawaii Convention Center general manager Teri Orton, in a press release announcing the renovations. “These upgrades will embody Hawaii’s unique sense of place while setting a new standard for excellence.”
meethawaii.com/convention-center
Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, Rhode Island
Earlier this year, the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence unveiled the results of a major, multiphase renovation project focused on modernizing interior finishes and furnishings and adding a more flexible, easy flow to its meeting and communal spaces.
Highlights of the approximately $25 million project included transforming the center’s third floor to add The Exchange, a new bar and gathering space; making improvements to the on-site parking garage; and renovating the facility’s ballrooms and meeting rooms, including adding new light fixtures and new acoustical wall panels for improved lighting and sound. The center also now includes upgraded digital and A/V infrastructure capable of hosting high-production events.
According to Alana Cerrone O’Hare, senior director of communications and special projects at GoProvidence, the convention center now boasts roughly 37,000 square feet of meeting space on its fifth floor, plus approximately 2,550 additional square feet of socializing or pre-function gathering space at The Exchange on the third floor.
“I think that The Exchange bar and the additions that we made to the third floor have just opened up the space in a way that was needed,” said Becca Ponder, director of sales and event services for Oak View Group, which manages the Rhode Island Convention Center.
“The renovation not only updated the space, but it really created a better flow for our pre-function floor plan,” Ponder added. “It provides a dedicated space to sit and mingle. The Exchange Bar has truly become a gathering space that we previously lacked.”
Broward County Convention Center
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
In fall 2025, the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, completed a $1 billion expansion project that added 525,000 square feet of meeting space to the facility — bringing the total meeting square footage there to more than 1.2 million square feet.
The expanded convention center now features a 350,000-square-foot contiguous exhibition hall, a new 65,000-square-foot waterfront ballroom, new dining venues and enhanced water taxi access. The new 29-story, 801-room Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel also opened next to the convention center in December 2025, as part of the expansion. The opening of a new 6-acre waterfront plaza with public access and an outdoor amphitheater, the final stage of the recent renovations, is set for completion in 2026.
“The expanded Broward County Convention Center has become a premier hub for meetings, conventions and large-scale events in greater Fort Lauderdale,” said Morgan Raines, a junior account executive with Hemsworth Communications, which handles public relations outreach for the convention center.
The convention center’s Atlantic Ballroom, the largest ballroom in South Florida, offers sweeping views of the Intracoastal Waterway, while its Grand Ballroom offers exceptional versatility, with 31,639 square feet of adaptable space that can be divided into eight smaller meeting rooms.
“In addition to the extensive meeting space at the convention center, the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel offers a 30,000-square-foot Waterway Ballroom, a 15,000-square-foot Port Everglades Ballroom, 24 concurrent breakout rooms and outdoor terraces across three levels on its campus,” Raines said. “Together, the destination delivers a full-fledged experience for exhibitors, attendees and industry professionals seeking close proximity to the convention center and its connected amenities.”
Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center
Rochester, New York
In operation since 1985, the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center welcomes guests to Rochester, New York’s downtown center, right along the banks of the Genesee River. The facility features 100,000 square feet of convertible meeting space, including a large, column-free exhibit hall and 25 meeting rooms.
The convention center recently announced plans for a $65.6 million modernization — supported through both state and city funds — via upcoming work that will mark the most significant investment since its opening. Design development for the modernization work will begin in summer 2026; a construction timeline has not yet been set.
“Convention centers are big economic drivers, but this isn’t about just bricks and mortar — this is about competitiveness,” said Kelly Carr, the Rochester convention center’s executive director. “Right now, we’re mostly doing local events. We hope an updated and innovative center will make Rochester a more viable option for meeting planners from across the country.”
Beyond the planned major restoration, the facility is currently undergoing additional work set for completion in 2026 to expand its main entrance along Main Street, improve accessibility and add restroom access on the first floor, among other upgrades. These changes have been part of a “ROC the Riverway” urban revitalization initiative in downtown Rochester.
The convention center connects via skyway to a Hyatt Regency, and several other downtown hotels are within easy walking distance.
“Downtown Rochester has lots of new restaurants coming in and new things to do,” said Rachel Laber Pulvino, vice president of communications for Visit Rochester. “The convention center has a major presence on the riverfront, and these planned upgrades really speak to the sense of excitement and energy here around downtown development.”
