Springfield, August 24, 2025
News Summary
City officials launched the next planning phase for a proposed downtown Springfield Regional Convention & Event Center by soliciting architectural design teams and a Construction Manager at Risk to begin preconstruction work. The consultant-recommended facility is roughly 125,000 square feet with an estimated $175 million construction cost. A $30 million state appropriation is currently restricted and would need a local match; councilors propose a lodging-tax increase to support bond debt and have allocated $250,000 for early professional work. Selection timelines are accelerated to show progress before an upcoming lodging-tax vote while financing and operational gaps remain unresolved.
Springfield moves quickly to hire architects and a construction manager ahead of November lodging-tax vote
City officials opened the next phase of planning for a downtown convention and event center by inviting design firms and a construction manager to begin work now, even as critical state and local funding remain uncertain. The move aims to show progress before a Nov. 4 lodging-tax vote that would help fund construction of a project estimated at $175 million.
Top facts up front
– A consultant report recommended a 125,000-square-foot event center and estimated construction costs near $175 million. Some other materials have cited different size figures, including a larger footprint, creating conflicting descriptions of the planned facility.
– The city released requests in mid-August seeking Statements of Qualifications for full architectural design services and separate requests for a Construction Manager at Risk (CMaR) to speed preconstruction and delivery.
– The state legislature set aside $30 million for the project in the recent state budget, but that money is currently on a restricted list and would need the governor’s action to be released. If released, it would require a matching local contribution.
– City Council allocated $250,000 from hotel/motel tax reserves to cover early professional expenses. About $100,000 of that has already been spent on consulting for financing work.
– To cover construction financing, the council is placing a proposed 3% hotel/motel tax increase on the Nov. 4 ballot. If approved, the tax increase would create a new revenue stream aimed at debt service for bonds tied to the project.
Why the city is acting now
With possible state funding waiting and a voter decision on the local lodging tax set for November, city leaders say they must show forward motion. Starting design work and bringing a construction manager on board is intended to demonstrate commitment and advance site evaluations and technical studies so the state match remains available.
Key dates and procurement steps
The city issued the architectural services request on Aug. 12. The plan is to select the architectural services team on Sept. 5, with that team expected to submit a proposed contract by Sept. 19. The city issued its CMaR request on Aug. 18 and set an accelerated schedule to select a finalist by Sept. 10 and finish contract negotiations by Sept. 24. Some public materials show slightly different dates for pre-submission meetings and shortlist notifications, reflecting overlapping timelines across documents.
Money in hand and gaps
The state allocation of $30 million is a major potential piece of the puzzle but currently remains on a list where release is at the discretion of the governor. City leaders must show local commitments to match that sum. A citizens’ advisory group recommended using one year of revenue from a half-cent local sales tax to provide a $30 million local match, and the council was expected to consider that move in late August.
Even with a combined $60 million from state and local matches, that amount would cover only part of the overall estimated cost. To finance the remainder, the council is asking voters to approve the lodging-tax increase to back bonds. The plan does not yet identify funding for long-term operations of the center, which is expected to run at a deficit, nor for an accompanying 400-room hotel that consultants recommended as part of a full campus plan.
Costs beyond construction and election logistics
The city has already committed $250,000 from hotel/motel tax reserves for due diligence, consulting and site evaluation work. Officials say more reallocations could be needed as design and preconstruction advance. Holding a special question on the Nov. 4 ballot will carry additional costs; local election officials estimate the city’s share could exceed $277,000 if no other issues are added to the ballot.
Design goals and broader vision
Public descriptions call the project the Springfield Regional Convention & Event Center, intended as a downtown landmark to attract conventions, concerts, tournaments and community events. Plans mentioned in some materials call for spaces such as exhibit halls, ballrooms, meeting rooms, parking and on-site gathering areas, with design targets at or above LEED Silver standards. Timelines published in local planning documents suggest construction might begin as early as 2026 if funding pieces fall into place.
Risks and next steps
There are several moving parts that could stall the project: the governor’s decision on releasing the state appropriation, voter approval of the lodging-tax increase, securing a local match and refining a financing structure that addresses both construction and ongoing operations. City staff and consultants continue to refine plans, assess sites and test financing scenarios, while procurement schedules press toward September selections for design and construction teams.
Conflicting figures to watch
Public materials include differing square-footage figures for the center. A market study recommended a 125,000-square-foot facility, while other descriptions have cited a much larger project footprint. These discrepancies will need resolving as architects and engineers produce site-specific plans during the next months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is being proposed?
The plan is for a new downtown convention and event center meant to host conventions, concerts, tournaments and community gatherings.
How much will it cost?
Consultants estimated construction costs around $175 million. Funding would come from a mix of state and local dollars plus bonds backed by a proposed lodging tax increase.
How will the city pay for it?
Funding sources under consideration include a $30 million state appropriation (currently restricted), a proposed local match (suggested to come from a one-year sales tax allocation), and bond financing supported by a proposed 3% lodging-tax increase on the November ballot.
When will officials select designers and the construction manager?
The architecture team was scheduled for selection in early September with contract proposals due later that month. The construction manager selection and negotiation timeline is also set for mid- to late-September under the city’s accelerated schedule.
Will the center pay for its own operation?
Operational funding has not been identified. City staff expect the facility to run at a deficit and have not included ongoing operating funds in the current financing plan.
What happens if voters reject the lodging-tax increase or state funds are not released?
If key funding pieces fail, the project would likely be delayed, scaled back or re-evaluated until additional funds are secured.
Key project features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project name | Springfield Regional Convention & Event Center (planned) |
| Estimated construction cost | $175 million (consultant estimate) |
| Recommended facility size | 125,000-square-foot recommended by a market study; other materials cite larger sizes |
| State contribution | $30 million appropriated but currently on a restricted release list |
| Local match proposal | One year of a half-cent sales tax, recommended by advisory board to provide $30 million |
| Ballot measure | Proposed 3% lodging-tax increase on Nov. 4 to support bonds for construction |
| Preconstruction funding | $250,000 allocated from hotel/motel tax reserves for early design and due diligence |
| Procurement timeline | Architect selection targeted in early September; CMaR finalist and contract negotiations targeted in mid- to late-September |
| Potential construction start | Could begin as early as 2026 if funding and approvals align |
| Design standard | Planned to meet at least LEED Silver certification standards |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- News-Leader: Springfield moves quickly to hire architects ahead of Nov. lodging-tax vote
- Wikipedia: Convention center
- KY3: Springfield takes next big step toward regional convention & event center
- Google Search: Springfield regional convention and event center
- OzarksFirst: City of Springfield continues toward new convention and event center
- Google Scholar: convention center economic impact
- News-Leader: Springfield convention center funding could include new hotel tax
- Encyclopedia Britannica: municipal finance & public infrastructure
- OzarksFirst: Springfield convention center architects
- Google News: Springfield convention center lodging tax
Author: Construction FL News
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