The Los Angeles City Council has voted to approve the L.A. Convention Center (LACC) Expansion and Modernization Project.

The $2.6 billion project includes the addition of 190,000 square feet of space, which will connect the existing South and West Exhibit Halls creating one contiguous 750,000-square-foot contiguous hall, as well as the addition of 39,000 square feet of new meeting room space and 95,000 square feet of multipurpose space.

While the project is scheduled to be completed by mid-2029, The Los Angeles Times reports that construction must begin immediately to meet the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics deadline, when the facility is scheduled to host judo, wrestling and other events.

The public infrastructure investment will create more than 15,000 jobs, add $652 million in General Fund tax revenue over 30 years, and draw in more than $150 million in additional visitor spending each year. It will also assist the City’s efforts to attract major conventions, conferences and events.

“On behalf of the entire team at Los Angeles Tourism, we are incredibly grateful that the City Council has voted to advance the modernization of the Los Angeles Convention Center,” said Adam Burke, president and CEO, Los Angeles Tourism. “As one of the most powerful yet often unseen drivers of LA’s tourism economy meetings and events generate billions of dollars annually for Los Angeles. They not only support the City’s General Fund and help fund essential services for all Angelenos, but also sustain local businesses across the greater Los Angeles region. As we look ahead to historic years on the horizon, and as the global spotlight on Los Angeles intensifies, we know the Los Angeles Convention Center will play an even more vital role in shaping our city’s future while continuing to welcome guests from around the globe.”

“An expanded and modernized Convention Center will transform the landscape of Downtown Los Angeles for following generations,” said Kimberly Weedmark, general manager, LACC. “We appreciate the LA City Council for their future facing vision, as this project will allow us to increase the number of top-tier programs that we welcome to Los Angeles, while granting our current clients continued growth opportunities. We are profoundly grateful to the teams at AEG, Plenary Group, Webcor, PCL and Populous, whose collaboration continues to set a new standard for excellence in the convention industry, and we look forward to the continued partnership as we move forward with the execution of the construction of the project. This is an incredibly exciting time for Los Angeles!”