Cincinnati Kicks Off Construction Of Reimagined Convention Center District

Courtesy photo.

The highly anticipated $240 million transformation of the Cincinnati Convention Center got underway July 16, as state, county, city and tourism leaders heralded the project and the impact it will have on the future convention district and the regional economy.

The new state-of-the-art Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC) will feature a dramatic new façade, and the exhibition hall will flow into an outdoor plaza, connected to a programmable park space, the new Elm Street Plaza.

Additional key highlights of the project include:

• Outdoor event areas: Creating unique opportunities for open-air meetings and events.
• Energy-efficient exhibit and meeting spaces: Incorporating the latest in sustainable technology to reduce environmental impact and operating costs.
• Revitalized ballrooms: Offering elegant and flexible spaces for a variety of events.
• A sunlit pre-function area: Providing a welcoming and vibrant space for attendees to gather and network.
• A stunning rooftop terrace: Offering sweeping views of the city and a premier space for special events.

The project is expected to be completed by December 2025, with bookings already underway for 2026 and beyond.

In addition to the new DECC and Elm Street Plaza, the reimagined downtown Cincinnati Convention District project will also include the subsequent construction of a planned 800-room, best-in-class convention headquarters hotel to support the travel and hospitality industries is another critical piece of the district’s overall revitalization plan.

“A study conducted by Convention Sports and Leisure shows when the new convention center and hotel are complete, there will be $48 million in new business – on top of the strong business Cincinnati already has. It represents a decisive and consistent return on this critical community investment,” said Julie Calvert, President and CEO of Visit Cincy.

“A healthy convention district and more convention business means local businesses, restaurants, venues, event services, and attractions will grow,” Calvert continued. “It means that ‘convention season’ can last year-round. It means we can better compete for, and win business against our peer cities, in the Midwest and across the country.”

The DECC transformation is part of a broader initiative to revitalize the downtown area, which will include a new headquarters hotel, new restaurants, and entertainment venues.

“This building is just one part of the robust vision and strategy to build out our Downtown, to activate every corner of this center city,” said Sheryl Long, Cincinnati City Manager. “Not only to attract more national and international events, but to invite new residents and corporate partners to spend time Downtown.”

Denise Driehaus, Hamilton County Commissioner added, “It will create vitality in this part of town because we’re doing it collectively. One piece doesn’t work or go forward without recognition of what it means for the other piece.”

Visit Cincy has been actively marketing and selling the new Convention District to bring growth and greater impact to Cincinnati and the region. The organization is working every day to capitalize on the revitalized, new DECC, bringing new visitors and new dollars to the region, filling restaurants and hotels, and booking attractions.

For more information, visit duke-energycenter.com