Three Rivers Convention Center Expansion Project Approved
The Three Rivers Convention Center is preparing for groundbreaking on the new expansion in March 2025.
On Tuesday, February 18th the Kennewick City Council unanimously approved a resolution to proceed with the Three Rivers Convention Center expansion project. This project will be funded through a bond issued by the Kennewick Public Facilities District with the support of the City of Kennewick and will not add any new taxes to taxpayers. Construction will begin in March 2025, marking 12 years since an expansion was initially conceptualized.
After construction is complete, the Three Rivers Convention center will add a 60,000 square foot exhibit hall, 5,000 square feet of additional meeting rooms, an extended lobby/pre-function space, and a new kitchen to the existing footprint. The expansion will provide significant new event opportunities to the growing sports industry and will be an ideal venue 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 have previously outgrown the convention center to host events in the area once again. The project was made possible through a public-private partnership with A-1 Pearl, who will simultaneously construct an AC by Marriot, 162-room, convention hotel with a connection to the newly expanded space. The new hotel is expected to break ground in April 2025.
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 at no extra cost to the taxpayers.”
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 additional 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.
The project is scheduled to be complete in the Fall of 2026.