Does Colorado Springs need downtown convention center?
Two Colorado Springs City Council members are calling for a downtown convention center, an idea that hasn’t been seriously discussed for 15 years.
The suggestion came last month during council remarks just before the final vote approving an expansion plan for the existing convention center at The Broadmoor.
Council members Bill Murray and Jill Gaebler suggested the idea.
“Downtown, it is the core and the heart of our city, and I think it is the logical place for a convention center-type facility,” Gaebler said Wednesday.
“Do we truly want to be a world-class city?” Murray said. “A convention center would bring more people downtown. When you go to a convention at The Broadmoor, you tend to stay there and not come downtown. The Broadmoor also is expensive. A downtown convention center would be a less expensive alternative.”
Gaebler said in a few years, after a flurry of new hotel construction, downtown will have more hotel beds than The Broadmoor.
“We also have many new businesses opening up and projects such as the Olympic Museum and two sports venues. There’s much more that will be happening downtown.”
Mayor John Suthers said he’s open to the idea.
“I personally would love to have a relatively small downtown convention center,” he said. “I don’t think The Broadmoor would have any problem with a reasonably-sized convention center in the downtown area.”
But the idea faces several hurdles.
In 2003, the city lost a race with The Broadmoor to build a convention center because city leaders coundn’t agree on whether such a facility would be feasible.
“And then The Broadmoor successfully got an issue on the ballot, one that voters approved, saying that no public money could be used for a convention center,” he said.
Suthers and Gaebler said a private developer or a hotel chain would likely have to step forward and build a facility.
“I haven’t heard anyone discuss it yet,” Gaebler said. “But I hope this starts the discussion.”
The location, cost and size of a downtown convention center would have to be determined.
KRDO NewsChannel 13 asked several downtown patrons what they think of the idea.
“I don’t think we’re quite there yet,” said Julio Colon. “As we keep growing, it’ll be inevitable, but we’re not ready for that yet.”
“I’m in favor of it if there’s adequate parking and if we can find a way to move the homeless somewhere else where they can get better care,” said Janet Adessa.
“This might be the right time,” said Stephen Swiatek. “I like the vibe that downtown has now. There was a time that my wife and I would rarely come here. Now, we come often.”
“I’d like to see it, but it all depends on where they build it,” said Susan Leerssen.
