Elected officials, business leaders and construction teams participated in topping out ceremonies Thursday as the highest structural steel beam was hoisted into place on Phase 1 of the ongoing Fort Worth Convention Center expansion project.
Speakers at the ceremony celebrating the important project milestone included Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Public Events Director Mike Crum, Visit Fort Worth Chairman Brian Newby and city council member Elizabeth Beck.
“Today is an exciting milestone as we continue to build on the success of our local tourism economy,” Parker said. “The Fort Worth Convention Center expansion is more than just a building project, it is a pivotal component of Fort Worth’s vision for a vibrant, economically robust future. The expanded convention center will bring increased capacity to host conferences from across the nation, bolstering our already impressive convention and tourism industry.”
The project emphasizes pedestrian access and improving the area’s walkability and connection to the surrounding neighborhood, which includes hotels, the Water Gardens, the new Texas A&M Fort Worth campus and the recently opened Deco 969 residential tower, officials said in a news release.
The expansion project will take place in two phases and the facility is remaining operational during both. Totaling 76,794 square feet, the $95 million Phase I includes the construction of a new grand southeast entrance, state-of-the-art food & beverage facilities, demolition of the 1980s annex to double loading docks, and realignment of Commerce Street to create a site pad for a future convention hotel.
Phase I of the expansion is set to complete in 2026. Phase II, estimated to cost $606 million, is in the planning and design stage with construction expected to begin in 2026 and run through early 2030.
The convention center expansion is part of the city’s larger economic development strategy to attract meetings from across the state and nation, officials said. Tourism is a $3.3 billion industry for Fort Worth and one of its largest employers, generating more than 30,000 jobs.
“Expanding our convention center means expanding opportunity for local business and creating jobs,” said Bob Jameson, president & CEO of Visit Fort Worth. “The word is out about Fort Worth and this center will enable us to keep up with growing demand to meet in our city.”
About the Fort Worth Convention Center
Originally constructed and owned by Tarrant County, the Fort Worth Convention Center & Arena has hosted thousands of major national and international events since 1968, including sports, concerts, political rallies, conventions and trade shows. The city acquired the convention center in 1997 and the facility was significantly expanded in 2003. With total meeting space of almost 400,000 square feet, the complex is the premier event space in downtown Fort Worth. More information can be found on the convention center webpage.