Orlando's Convention Center - Lavish Or Wasteful?

The county's expansion of its world class convention center came with a $750 million price tag. Was it worth it?

1 minute read

May 13, 2001, 7:00 AM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


In 1998, Orange County Commissioners easily approved a $750 million expansion of the Covention Center, which would add 1 million square feet of exhibition space. No one looked to Orlando's largest competitor, Las Vegas, which was paying only a fifth of the price for its expansion. "For its 1 million square feet of exhibition space, Las Vegas is paying $150 million. The building in Vegas is less glitzy -- even plain in places. And Las Vegas officials don’t dispute that it pales in comparison to Orlando’s state-of-the-art facility. But what they do dispute is the notion that anyone needs to spend as much money as Orange County did."

Thanks to Christian Peralta

Sunday, May 13, 2001 in The Orlando Sentinel

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