News Summary
Los Angeles City Council has greenlit a $2.62 billion expansion plan for the Convention Center, aimed at revitalizing downtown and preparing for the 2028 Olympic Games. Despite concerns over budget risks, Mayor Karen Bass endorsed the initiative as crucial for economic recovery and job creation, estimating thousands of new jobs. The expansion will boost the venue’s capacity significantly, add exhibit space, and incorporate measures to enhance downtown safety and cleanliness.
Los Angeles officials have approved a $2.62 billion expansion and modernization plan aimed at revitalizing the downtown area and preparing the Los Angeles Convention Center for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Mayor Karen Bass announced the project during a press conference held at the Convention Center alongside residents, business leaders, and elected officials.
The expansion plan was approved by the Los Angeles City Council on September 19 with an 11-2 vote, although concerns were raised regarding rising costs and potential risks to the city’s budget. Mayor Bass characterized the expansion as a significant investment in the city’s future and economy, highlighting the ongoing efforts to revitalize downtown Los Angeles.
Details of the Expansion
The expansion will create a connection between the Convention Center’s West Hall and South Hall over Pico Boulevard, effectively increasing the venue’s capacity. The project will add approximately 190,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, nearly 40,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and about 95,000 square feet dedicated to a multi-purpose room.
Supporters of the project also announced additional strategies to boost downtown’s recovery, such as increasing police foot and bike patrols, expanding mental health response teams, improving street cleanliness, and streamlining permitting processes for new developments.
Economic Impact
The Convention Center is critical to Los Angeles’s economy, generating over $8 billion annually in sales for local businesses through conventions and trade shows. With the expansion underway, nearly 100 major citywide conventions have expressed interest in bringing their events to Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor has hailed the project as an investment in workers, with expectations that it will create thousands of new permanent union jobs and approximately 13,300 construction jobs. Additionally, over 2,000 permanent positions will be available at the Convention Center once the expansion is complete.
Concerns and Criticisms
While many hailed the project, critics voiced significant concerns regarding financing. Some expressed fears that funding the expansion might strain the city’s budget and potentially divert money from essential services, such as public safety and homelessness support. Financial analysts have projected that total costs could reach $3.06 billion, with debt payments averaging $89 million annually. To mitigate risks, a $566 million reserve has been allocated for any potential cost overruns.
The construction timeline is tight, requiring work to commence promptly to ensure completion before the 2028 Games, with substantial completion expected by March 2028. However, it has been noted that Olympic events will utilize existing facilities instead of the newly expanded space to ensure the site is ready for media coverage.
Background Context
The project is viewed as the culmination of over a decade of planning, with various stakeholders describing it as a symbol of the city’s resilience and readiness to host global events. Councilmember Curren Price emphasized the importance of the project as a catalyst for future investment. Nevertheless, concerns raised by critics, including city councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Nithya Raman, point to a reluctance to risk taxpayer funds in the face of prior budget shortfalls, including a $1 billion gap.
Mayor Bass and project advocates argue that the expansion is essential to help the city recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, reinforcing the necessity of investing in local initiatives as a means for a robust economic comeback.
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Additional Resources
- Daily News: Karen Bass OKs $2.6B LA Convention Center Expansion Ahead of 2028 Olympics
- Los Angeles Times: City Council Approves Convention Center Amid Cost Concerns
- LAist: City Council Approves Convention Center Expansion
- Wikipedia: Los Angeles Convention Center
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Los Angeles
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LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER The LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELosAngeles.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and beyond, specializing in "news you can use" with coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while delivering top reporting on high-value events like the Academy Awards, LA Auto Show, and Los Angeles Marathon, extending coverage to key organizations such as the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, plus leading businesses in entertainment and technology like Warner Bros. and SpaceX, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREAnaheim.com , HERECostaMesa.com , HEREHuntingtonBeach.com , and HERESantaAna.com , providing comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape. HERE Anaheim HERE Beverly Hills HERE Coronado HERE Costa Mesa HERE Hollywood HERE Huntington Beach HERE Long Beach HERE Los Angeles HERE Mission Viejo HERE San Diego HERE Santa Ana
