Los Angeles is on the verge of missing a critical step that will accelerate its economic recovery. While our city leadership is rightfully focused on tackling our most urgent issues such as homelessness and housing, Los Angeles necessitates both immediate problem solvers and visionaries.

In planning for a prosperous future for Los Angeles – one that includes hosting the 2028 Olympics – Convention Center expansion and modernization is a necessary investment that requires action before the window of opportunity closes. While it has been over a decade since the conception of this necessary project, it has been over five years since the current proposal has been in the city’s hands with no action.

Not at full capacity 

Large scale events at the Convention Center generate tourism, have a tremendous positive impact on neighboring businesses and generate critically needed tax revenue. On just 1% of the city’s land, downtown generates about a quarter of the entire city’s hotel taxes – driven in large part by convention activities. This revenue goes to the city’s general fund which provides essential city services such as trash pickup and sidewalk repair. As things stand, we’re missing out on important revenue because our facilities are unable to compete with their larger, modern neighbors. 

This year, the Los Angeles Convention Center was confirmed to host 21 major events, while the Anaheim Convention Center was confirmed to host 43 – more than double. At 350,000 square feet, the Los Angeles Convention Center is half the size of San Diego’s planned expansion. Both Anaheim and Las Vegas completed expansion projects and now stand at 670,000 and 1 million square feet, respectively. Without certainty around expansion, major events are postponing or canceling L.A. convenings, depriving local businesses of the economic benefits and hampering recovery efforts. 

If Los Angeles were to take on expansion and modernization, Tourism Economics and L.A. Tourism estimate that in 2030 hotel-room nights would increase by 471,520 with guests filling those rooms spending $327 million in Los Angeles. These sales would create 3,367 full-time jobs. 

To put it simply, a larger more modern Convention Center will translate to more job opportunities in the key industries of tourism and hospitality in addition to better funded city services. Without adequate investment, we’re essentially sitting on a major economic engine in the heart of the city that isn’t operating at full capacity. It’s in the city’s best interest to expand and modernize it to help stimulate economic activity. 

Neighboring competitors

In just a few years, Los Angeles will be hosting the world during the 2028 Olympics. Our success in hosting these games relies on Los Angeles living up to our reputation of being a world-class city with premier facilities. The Convention Center is an essential part of that.

According to LA28, the Convention Center is confirmed to host boxing, fencing, basketball, table tennis and taekwondo. We need to make necessary facility improvements to ensure we can safely and efficiently host these games and their attendees. 

Los Angeles is already planning for the Olympics in a myriad of ways, but the lack of action on Convention Center expansion and modernization is a glaring oversight that will negatively impact Los Angeles beyond the games. The good news is if the City Council acts quickly, we still have time to correct the course. 

Leveraging partnerships

It’s essential that Los Angeles gets this done, but it’s equally important that it gets done right.

The last major infrastructure project the city undertook – the Sixth Street Bridge – was behind schedule and over budget. A public-private partnership has the capacity to ensure the project is delivered in an efficient and timely manner by proven, established private entities that have executed projects to this scale already in Los Angeles and across the county.

In turn, the city needs to continue to focus on delivering other enormous priorities such as enabling affordable housing, providing comprehensive solutions to homelessness and streamlining the delivery of basic services.  

As we work toward a more vibrant Los Angeles, we need to recognize the opportunities before us and work in a timely and collaborative manner that will benefit us all. Convention Center modernization and expansion is precisely that opportunity, and it requires immediate action from our city leaders – downtown Los Angeles and our broader city cannot afford to wait. 

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Nella McOsker is the president and chief executive of Central City Association, an advocacy organization focused on enhancing the vibrancy of downtown Los Angeles and increasing opportunity in the region. CCA represents the interests of more than 300 businesses, trade associations and nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles County.