LOS ANGELES, November 14, 2023 –
L.A. Convention center Modernization Inches Forward, Expansion Postponed Untill After 2028 Olympics
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City leaders greenlit a plan to upgrade the Convention Center without expanding it before the 2028 Summer Games, citing important financial and scheduling risks.
- L.A. City Council committee voted 3-2 to prioritize modernization over immediate expansion of the Convention Center.
- The decision pushes potential expansion plans until after the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games conclude.
- Officials cited concerns about project costs, potential city workforce cuts, and the Olympic readiness deadline.
- A $54 million investment will fund immediate deferred maintenance and upgrades.
Los Angeles is moving ahead with Convention Center upgrades, but a major expansion is now slated for after the 2028 Summer Olympics. The City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee narrowly approved a new action plan Tuesday,opting for modernization over immediate growth amid warnings about financial peril and missed deadlines.
What’s the main takeaway for L.A. regarding the Convention center?
The city is focusing on essential upgrades to ensure the Convention Center is ready for the 2028 Olympics without a risky, large-scale expansion before the event.
The committee, in a 3-2 vote, backed a proposal to shelve current expansion plans. Chair Katy Yaroslavsky championed the move, emphasizing the “too great” risks to the city’s finances and its ability to be prepared for the global event.
“I want to see investment in these high-road jobs,” Yaroslavsky stated,”but the risks to the project as proposed,and the risks to the city’s finances are too great,and risks us having to cut our city workforce to offset the cost of the project for years to come,which isn’t even touching on the risk of schedule and being ready for the Olympics.”
the Convention Center is scheduled to host multiple Olympic and Paralympic events, including fencing, taekwondo, judo, wrestling, and table tennis.
Modernization Over Expansion: What’s Next?
City officials will now halt activities tied to the existing Convention Center Expansion project. A sum of $54 million, designated for an Early Works Agreement, will be used for immediate assessments and necessary upgrades. Staff are tasked with identifying deferred maintenance and modernizations needed to bring the facility into the 21st century. Any recommended work must be completed before March 2028, using a competitive bidding process.
Key upgrades on the table include digital signage facing Figueroa Street and major freeway interchanges, renovations at Gilbert Lindsay Plaza, electrical and ADA improvements in the West and South Halls, and enhanced fire safety measures.
Beyond these immediate fixes, staff will also report back within 120 days on options for a new request for proposals to expand the Convention Center’s footprint. This report will come after the 2028 Games conclude and will explore maximizing the site’s economic impact.It will also assess the feasibility of closing Pico Boulevard rather of building a proposed bridge to connect hotels and housing to the center.
Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez supported the recommendations, which will head to the full City Council for consideration. Though, Council members Heather Hutt and Tim McOsker voted against the proposal, with Hutt expressing discomfort over last-minute changes that hadn’t been fully circulated for public comment.
“I want to go on the record and say I’m not comfortable voting on these recommendations today. The substantive changes have not been circulated to the committee members, staff, public and
