Bradenton Area Convention Center’s new look revealed. But the price has tripled.
Faced with construction costs that have tripled since the plans were unveiled in 2019, Manatee County will steam ahead with a $48 million renovation of the Bradenton Area Convention Center.
The planned upgrades in Palmetto are meant to complement the incoming eight-story, 252-room Marriott hotel that is under construction and set to open in January. Over the next two years, the convention center will develop a radically different look.
In new design renderings presented by the Bradenton Area Visitors and Convention Bureau, county staff showed off a modern facade, new flooring throughout the building and updated design touches to mimic the Marriott.
“We would be running on all cylinders,” said Elliott Falcione, executive director of the county’s tourism arm.
But the price has risen significantly since Falcione first proposed expanding and remodeling the convention center four years ago. At that time, the estimated cost was $15 million.
Tom Yarger, the county’s construction services project manager, explained that prices are up across the board, pointing to a 32% increase in building costs.
The full cost of the renovations will be covered with tourism taxes, which are the fees that tourists pay when they visit hotels and short-term rentals in Manatee County.
Convention center eyes big changes
The renovation of the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto, will set it apart from other similarly sized venues, Falcione told the Board of County Commissioners during Tuesday’s public meeting.
“If you look at the west coast of Florida, we would have the only convention center of its size from St. Pete to Naples,” he said.
Sarasota does not have a convention center, and one of its largest meeting spaces downtown, the Hyatt Regency, is set to be demolished and rebuilt in the coming years.
Falcione also pitched the board on the convention center’s expected economic impact, pointing to studies that predict big benefits for businesses in the area.
“The [return on investment] is going to be really, really good,” Falcione said. “Does Palmetto need a hotel? Absolutely. The hotel alone is going to generate economic impact in the $4 to $5 million range.”
The Palmetto Marriott is on track to open in January. The hotel is expected to offer several amenities, such as a rooftop restaurant, a spa and a walkway that connects directly to the convention center.
Manatee officials welcome upgrades
After some slight sticker shock, board members said they support improving the look and feel of the convention center, which first opened in 1985.
“It’s already much much more than we originally approved,” Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said.
Board members said they believe the combination of the hotel and the renovated convention center will become a regional attraction that benefits the entire county.
“I think this hotel and convention center will bring a ton of new businesses in,” said Commissioner Mike Rahn.
“I don’t like to spend money, but I also see vision and opportunity to draw tax revenue into the comm at a very significant amount,” Commissioner Jason Bearden added. “I can see us making this investment back in three years.”
Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant also spoke at the meeting to voice her support for the project.
“It’s long overdue,” Bryant said. “Let’s get it done,” Bryant said.
The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to begin negotiating the construction contract for the convention center. According to county staff, construction should begin in about 8 months and the renovations should be finished by summer 2025.
This story was originally published April 18, 2023 at 3:58 PM.
