Three Rivers Convention Center Expansion Project Approved
The Three Rivers Convention Center is preparing for an expansion, thanks to a private/public partnership that will not include any new taxes.
On Tuesday, June 4th the Kennewick City Council unanimously accepted the resolution to proceed with the Three Rivers Convention Center expansion project. This will be completed with a public-private partnership between the City of Kennewick, Kennewick Public Facility District, and A1 Pearl Development Group. Construction is set to begin at the end of December 2024, marking 12 years since the proposition was initially conceptualized.
The addition to the Convention Center will add 60,000 square feet of exhibit space to the facility, as well as 70,000 square feet of additional meeting rooms, lobby, and support space and provide significant new event opportunities to the growing sports industry. It will be an ideal space to host large-scale competitions for sports such as basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and more. The additional square footage will also allow conventions and trade shows that had outgrown the convention center to host events in the area once again.
Executive Director Corey Pearson expressed his satisfaction with this decision, “This will be a game changer for the community and will benefit our hotels, restaurants, and retailers.”
This is an exciting moment for the City of Kennewick as the expansion is expected to generate close to 200,000 attendees and 70,600 room nights, annually. The increase in attendance is estimated to generate $130.8 million in total spending, $26.4 million in increased earnings, and $6.9 million in sales tax and hotel/motel tax revenues.
Current plans anticipate the doors to the new expanded space will open in Fall 2026.
