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Keith McCord ReportingTwo weeks from today Salt Lake's largest ever convention will open at the Salt Palace. The convention center has been undergoing a major renovation to prepare for that and it looks like they'll make the deadline.
The 52-million dollar expansion project will be ready on time for the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. That show has become so big over the years, it's the main reason for the expansion. But with a bigger convention center, the future looks very bright for other large groups.
Four months ago, the inside of the expanded area of the Salt Palace was a mess of concrete, wires, welders, and gaping holes in the side of the building. Things have certainly changed. The gaping hole has been finished off and the construction cranes are gone.
There's still plenty of work to do, but convention planners are giddy.
Shawn Stinson, Convention and Visitors Bureau: "It's been quite a project and we're thrilled to see it finally come to fruition. And I say finally, but it has been two years, it truly has been fast tracked."
This expansion project began in November of 2004. When it's done in a couple of weeks, the Salt Palace will offer 679-thousand square feet of exhibit space. And the in the convention business, anything over 500-thousand is considered the big time.
Shawn Stinson, Convention and Visitors Bureau: "It puts us into a new league. And again, it'll bring quite a bit of recognition and interest into Salt Lake City. This will become one of the largest convention centers in the west."
Larger conventions mean a huge boost in dollars to the local economy-- hotels, restaurants, stores, transportation all benefit. And the bookings for the future are already coming in; several large conventions are booked into 2009. That wouldn't have happened without this expansion.
Shawn Stinson, Convention and Visitors Bureau: "It will definitely reach out to the meeting planners, and the various associations; and it will put Salt Lake on the radar map where perhaps we wouldn't have been before."
As far as the summer Outdoor Retailers show, it's celebrating its 25th Birthday! The last 11 have been here in Salt Lake. And with the Salt Palace Expansion, they're committed to staying here for years to come.
