Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland gets $49M makeover: Can it compete with the big leagues?

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The newly renovated Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland celebrated its grand opening and expansion on Friday after an 18-month, $49 million project.

The revamped space boasts massive, sun-drenched ballrooms, flexible meeting rooms, and a rooftop terrace with stunning city views.

But the question remains: Can this revitalized venue compete with larger convention centers in cities like Las Vegas and Chicago?

The former Global Center for Health Innovation, once considered a “ghost town,” has been transformed into a modern event space.

A spokesperson for the convention center said the failed Medical Mart project provided an opportunity to “reimagine that space as part of the convention center.”

The county hired a third-party company to assess the best use of the space, ultimately deciding that bigger, more flexible convention space was the key to attracting major events and boosting the local economy.

Mayor Justin Bibb hailed the renovation as “an amazing example of Cleveland’s economic comeback.” The center has already booked 62 future events, showing promising signs of success.

However, Cleveland faces stiff competition. Las Vegas boasts 3 million square feet of exhibit space and hosts over 20,000 conventions annually.

Chicago’s McCormick Place has 2.6 million square feet, and even San Antonio’s convention center offers over half a million square feet.

While the Huntington Convention Center has seen a slight increase in conferences this year, hosting 59 compared to 55 during the same period last year, it remains to be seen whether this makeover is enough to secure Cleveland’s position as a prime convention destination.

19 News will continue to follow this story and assess the impact of this major investment on Cleveland’s economy.

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