With Demand Growing, Fort Worth Opens First Phase of Convention Center Expansion

The sun was shining on the nation’s 10th largest city for a Monday morning ribbon-cutting of the first phase of the Fort Worth Convention Center’s expansion.

Additions to the center, which remained operational during the two years of construction, are now complete and ready for convention clients. City leaders stressed the importance of convention business as an increasingly vital part of Fort Worth’s economy.

The demand for convention space and hotels is growing in Fort Worth, Bob Jameson, Visit Fort Worth president and CEO, told the group assembled outside the addition. To keep up with the demand and to remain competitive with Dallas and Houston, phase two of the construction is scheduled for completion in 2030.

City officials at the ceremony also included Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, City Councilmember Elizabeth Beck and Public Events Director Mike Crum. In addition, tourism officials, business leaders and construction partners braved the cold Monday morning outside the convention center’s new southeast entrance, which includes a lantern-box atrium lobby and retail coffee bar named The Beltbuckle Brew.

This convention center expansion marks the beginning of a larger vision for the city’s meetings industry. Crum described the completion of Phase I as a milestone delivered on time and within budget. Design work for the second phase is nearing completion. Floor plans and renderings are expected in the months ahead, offering a preview of what he called “big horizons” for Fort Worth’s convention business, according to Crum.

A Fixture Since 1968

Since opening in 1968, the Fort Worth Convention Center has hosted thousands of national and international events, including sports, concerts, political rallies, conventions, and trade shows. The center, owned and operated by the City of Fort Worth, underwent a major expansion in 2003. It now offers 230,000 square feet of event space, catering services, high-speed connectivity, and professional staff. Its location in the city’s central business district and amenities make it an increasingly busy venue for meeting planners and guests.

Broaddus & Associates Inc. has served as the project manager, working with Elements of Architecture Inc. Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates Inc. (TVS), a global design firm, has partnered with Bennett Partners to provide design and construction administration. A joint venture of AECOM Hunt, Byrne Construction Services, and E.J. Smith Construction is serving as construction manager at risk for Phase One.

Big Growth in Cowtown

The city’s rapid expansion underscores the importance of such venues. Fort Worth’s population climbed to 1,033,932 residents in 2025, an increase of more than 32,000 people in just one year and a growth of 11.4% since the 2020 Census. Fort Worth, Texas Population 2025. That surge has made Fort Worth the second-largest city in North Texas, trailing only Dallas.

Fort Worth’s central business district is experiencing significant growth. In recent years, office development and the revitalization of older properties have driven momentum downtown. The new Texas A&M University’s Fort Worth campus is a major factor in growth and housing development.