Springfield, August 24, 2025
News Summary
City officials launched the next planning phase for a proposed downtown Springfield Regional Convention & Event Center by soliciting architectural design teams and a Construction Manager at Risk to begin preconstruction work. The consultant-recommended facility is roughly 125,000 square feet with an estimated $175 million construction cost. A $30 million state appropriation is currently restricted and would need a local match; councilors propose a lodging-tax increase to support bond debt and have allocated $250,000 for early professional work. Selection timelines are accelerated to show progress before an upcoming lodging-tax vote while financing and operational gaps remain unresolved.
Springfield speeds up planning for proposed $175 million downtown convention and event center
Springfield city leaders have moved quickly to start design and preconstruction work on a proposed downtown convention and event center that consultants estimated would cost about $175 million to build. The city has opened formal calls for design teams and a Construction Manager at Risk (CMaR) as it prepares for a Nov. 4 lodging-tax vote that would help fund construction.
Top-line actions and fast timelines
This month the city invited firms to submit Statements of Qualifications for full architectural design services and issued a separate request seeking a CMaR to deliver the project on an accelerated schedule. The city posted the design SOQ notice on Aug. 12 and issued the CMaR invitation on Aug. 18. Officials set selection targets in September: the architectural team is to be selected by Sept. 5 with a contract proposal due to the city by Sept. 19, and the construction manager finalist will be chosen by Sept. 10 with negotiations aimed to wrap by Sept. 24.
Project size, scope and design standards
A recent market and financial feasibility study recommended construction of a 125,000-square-foot event center in downtown Springfield, with an estimated construction cost of about $175 million. Some public materials have also described a larger footprint in other renderings, creating mixed reporting on exact square footage; design teams will refine the program during the preconstruction phase. Plans call for exhibit halls, ballrooms, meeting rooms, parking and gathering spaces, and the design would need to meet at least LEED Silver environmental standards.
Funding picture and shortfalls
Funding for the build is currently a patchwork. The state legislature set aside $30 million for the project in the latest state budget, but that allocation is on a restricted list and must be released at the governor’s discretion. If released, that money would require a local match and must be spent before a June 2026 deadline. The city’s plan for a local match includes using a year’s worth of a recently approved half-cent sales tax designated for transformative civic projects.
City Council allocated $250,000 from existing hotel/motel tax reserves to cover early professional services and site due diligence. About $100,000 of those funds went to consultant work on financing structures, and officials have said additional reallocations may be required as design and CMAR processes proceed. A financing gap remains: the combined $60 million from the proposed state and local matches would cover only a portion of the estimated cost.
Lodging tax vote and related costs
To pay the bulk of construction costs, the city is sending a proposal to voters to increase the hotel/motel license tax by an additional 3 percentage points, an item to appear on the Nov. 4 ballot. The current city lodging tax is 5%, applied to hotels and short-term rentals; the proposed increase would be dedicated to repaying bonds for construction. Holding the election carries its own cost: local election staff estimate the city’s portion could exceed $277,000 if that remains the only item on the county ballot.
Operational and development considerations
City staff and consultants acknowledge that construction financing does not fully solve long-term needs. Operating the new center is expected to run at a deficit and will require ongoing subsidy planning. An accompanying recommended 400-room hotel adjacent to the center has not had a funding source identified. City planners continue to refine financing options and evaluate how to cover both capital and operating costs should voters and state leaders approve funding pieces.
Why the city is acting now
Officials say starting design and preconstruction work now is intended to show tangible local investment and keep the state match available. With the state allocation on a restricted list and a deadline on spending if released, the city is attempting to demonstrate readiness by lining up designers and a construction manager prior to a final decision on state funds and before the lodging-tax referendum outcome.
Risks, endorsements and public sentiment
A local business board endorsed the lodging-tax measure, and analysts point out lodging taxes are common because the cost largely falls on visitors. Advocates say tying revenue explicitly to a project can increase voter trust, while critics urge careful review because added visitor traffic also strains infrastructure and such taxes shift revenue that the city otherwise would have received. Historical local voting trends show strong support for many past municipal tax measures, but nearby communities have had mixed results on lodging tax increases in recent ballots.
Next steps and schedule
Design teams should submit qualifications by the dates specified in city notices, with shortlisted construction managers and interviews scheduled in early September. City staff expect to identify a site within roughly 60–90 days as engineers and architects begin work. If any key funding pieces do not materialize, officials say the project would likely be paused, re-evaluated or delayed until additional money is identified.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the proposed project?
The proposal is for a downtown Springfield Regional Convention & Event Center intended for conventions, concerts, tournaments and community gatherings.
How big is the center and how much will it cost?
A consultants’ study recommended a 125,000-square-foot center with an estimated construction cost of about $175 million. Other public references have cited different square footage in early reporting; the final size will be refined during design.
How will the project be funded?
Planned funding sources include a $30 million state allocation that requires release by the governor, a $30 million local match from a portion of sales tax revenue, and bond repayment supported by a proposed 3% lodging tax increase to be voted on Nov. 4. This package would still leave a funding gap for full project costs, and operation costs are not fully identified.
What is the city doing now?
The city has issued requests for architectural teams and a Construction Manager at Risk to start design and preconstruction activities this fall, using an initial $250,000 allocation from hotel/motel tax reserves for due diligence and consultant work.
When will voters decide?
The lodging-tax question is scheduled for the Nov. 4 ballot. Election costs to the city are separate and could exceed $277,000 if the ballot contains only that question in the county.
What are the risks?
Primary risks include the state withholding the $30 million, a voter rejection of the lodging-tax measure, an inability to finance operations or the recommended adjacent hotel, and construction and design costs rising during the process.
Key project features at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Estimated construction cost | $175 million (consultant estimate) |
| Recommended size | 125,000 sq ft (study recommendation; other reports vary) |
| Design standard | At least LEED Silver |
| Key funding pieces | $30M state allocation (restricted), $30M local sales tax match, proposed 3% lodging tax for bonds |
| Local seed funds allocated | $250,000 from hotel/motel tax reserves for due diligence and consultants |
| Ballot date for lodging tax | Nov. 4 |
| Selection timeline (design & CMAR) | Architect team selected by Sept. 5; CMAR finalist selected by Sept. 10; contract talks to finish by Sept. 24 |
| Operational funding | Not fully identified; center expected to operate at a deficit without subsidy planning |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- News-Leader: Springfield moves quickly to hire architects ahead of Nov. lodging-tax vote
- Wikipedia: Convention center
- KY3: Springfield takes next big step toward regional convention & event center
- Google Search: Springfield regional convention and event center
- OzarksFirst: City of Springfield continues toward new convention and event center
- Google Scholar: convention center economic impact
- News-Leader: Springfield convention center funding could include new hotel tax
- Encyclopedia Britannica: municipal finance & public infrastructure
- OzarksFirst: Springfield convention center architects
- Google News: Springfield convention center lodging tax
