The first phase of the Fort Worth Convention Center expansion made its debut on Monday, December 8 — a major milestone for the project which is part of the city’s larger economic development strategy to attract meetings from across the state and nation.

The expansion is taking place in two phases and now Phase 1 is complete.

Totaling 76,794 square feet, the $95 million renovation includes a grand Southeast entrance and terrace, state-of-the-art food & beverage facilities, a retail coffee bar, 11 new loading docks (up from seven), and realignment of Commerce Street to create a site pad for a future convention hotel and additional retail or restaurants.

These new additions are now fully complete and open to convention clients and to the public.

Phase II construction, estimated at $606 million, is anticipated to begin in late 2026 and run through early 2030.

Elected officials, business leaders, and construction partners gathered for a ribbon-cutting at the new southeast entrance, which includes a lantern box atrium lobby and retail coffee bar called Beltbuckle Brew.

Speakers included Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, District 9 City Councilmember Elizabeth Beck, Public Events Director Mike Crum, and Visit Fort Worth President & CEO Bob Jameson.

“Fort Worth provides the Texas experience that meeting planners want, and the Phase I convention center expansion and modernization exceeds those expectations,” said Mayor Parker. “This milestone, along with Phase II construction, will increase capacity to host conferences from across the nation, bolstering our already impressive convention and tourism industry.”

Crum called it the first step.

“We’ve delivered Phase 1 on budget and on time, and design is almost complete for the second phase of expansion and modernization," Crum said. "We will have floor plans and renderings to share within the next few months that will illustrate big horizons ahead for Fort Worth’s meeting business.”