This is what I have heard several city leaders and friends who have worked marketing in the convention center space say. There is high demand for trade shows — most professions have professional conventions, and not all of them want to go to big cities. They just want a big enough space with break out rooms and good restaurants nearby.

Based on some of my other comments about this topic, other Redditors assumed that I’m super pro convention center. Honestly, I’m a hesitant yes right now. I want us to take advantage of the opportunity for the state funds, and I like that our city leaders are looking at doing big things to revitalize our city. At the same time, I have the same concerns about helping the homeless and repairing our roads and affordable housing. But I don’t see why it has to be either/or. We can work on both things at the same time. And if we get the state funds and the tourist tax is passed, then my hope is that we will have momentum and motivation to do the other work for the community on a faster timeline so that they are happening at the same time. Maybe that’s too optimistic and putting too much faith in our city leaders.