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 dont dispute that it pales in comparison to Orlandos 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

FULL STORY: $750 million expansion went unchallenged

Sunday, May 13, 2001 in The Orlando Sentinel

Government / Politics Florida

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