Shovels and a dirt box prepared for Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony for the convention center expansion. (Donnie Burgess, WFIU/WTIU News)
Shovels hit the dirt Tuesday afternoon, putting in motion the long-awaited construction of the 61,000-square foot addition to the Bloomington Convention Center.
It’s a project that civic and community leaders have anticipated for many years.
"For far too long, our current facility has limited size and scope of events that we can accommodate," said Eric Spoonmore, president of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. "But with this expansion, that all changes. We will now welcome larger conferences, fill hotels during the week, and better support our local economy."
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The convention center, recently renamed as the Bloomington Convention Center for marketing purposes, was originally built in 1923 as Graham Motor Sales. The building was renovated into a convention center in 1991.
Land for an expansion was purchased in 2010. The Monroe County Council passed a food and beverage tax in 2017 that funds the project. The Capital Improvement Board was created in 2023 to manage the project.
Despite the progress, some county leaders said work remains unfinished.
"Ensuring a successful convention center requires that two key issues still need to be addressed," said Julie Thomas, president of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners. "The first being adequate parking for all of the additional visitors and a new hotel to accommodate large conventions."
John Whikehart, president of the Capital Improvement Board, said he’s happy to hear the city of Bloomington and convention center hotel developer Dora Hospitality are making progress in negotiations.
“The fact that the redevelopment commission last night approved a $300,000 expenditure, which is my understanding is for initial design work for the hotel, shows me that both parties are serious about moving forward and so we're very happy about that,” Whikehart said.
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The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission owns the land intended for the hotel. That’s the former Bunger and Robertson site at College Square.
City legal also proposed a public-private partnership with Dora Hospitality to share revenue produced by the hotel. Whikehart said he’s happy to hear both sides are exploring all options that benefit everyone.
“If they’re exploring a public-private partnership and that’s mutually beneficial, both to the redevelopment commission and Dora Hospitality, I’m all for it,” he said.
Whikehart said the convention center expansion should be complete and ready for a Jan. 1, 2027, opening.
Construction is expected to cost just over $50 million.
