St. Louis Convention Center To Get $175 Million Expansion

ST. LOUIS, MO — St. Louis' downtown convention center is set to get a multi-million dollar upgrade, civic leaders announced Wednesday. The Associated Press reports $175 million will be used to add almost 100,000 square feet of event space and a 65,000-square-foot ballroom to America's Center in the hopes of attracting big conventions that could draw hundreds of thousands of people to St. Louis every year.

That money is set to come not from St. Louis residents (at least not through any new taxes) but rather from funds left over from the construction of the Dome at America's Center in 1995. The Dome's previous occupants, the Rams, have since moved to Los Angeles, but funds used to service the debt for construction — set to be paid off in a few years — will be used for new 40-year-bonds for the convention center's expansion. That money comes largely from existing hotel taxes.

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Officials said hotel bookings in St. Louis are down 30 percent over last year. They hope the revamped convention center might change that. St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger both say they're on board.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.

Photo: Convention attendees at the Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con at America's Center in St Louis, Missouri. (Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)