Cities, counties and states throughout the country are investing heavily in arenas, convention centers, fairgrounds and other large public event facilities.
The activity is notable because it is occurring even as the broader construction market has slowed. The American Institute of Architects’ July 2026 Consensus Construction Forecast projects spending on amusement and recreation facilities, including sports venues and performance and meeting centers, to increase 7.1 percent this year. Public owners are renovating aging facilities, adding flexible event space, upgrading technology and building systems, improving accessibility and creating new amenities designed to attract larger events and visitors. These investments are being increasingly justified as economic development initiatives because successful venues generate sales tax revenue through spending at hotels, restaurants and other local businesses.
Officials in the city of Norfolk are planning a $58.5 million renovation project for Scope Arena, a city-owned sports, entertainment and convention venue. The facility can currently accommodate 12,600 spectators and includes a flexible 58,430-square-foot main arena with modular exhibition halls and four meeting rooms used for conventions, trade shows, sporting events and concerts.
Current plans call for expanded seating in the upper and lower areas, improved ADA access to the arena floor and additional restrooms. The project will also include upgraded food-and-beverage service areas, relocated ticketing space, interactive technology and new VIP club and dining areas. Event-support improvements are planned for performer green rooms and meet-and-greet space, along with reconfiguration of the event level to accommodate revised stage layouts and more efficient loading operations. Plans also call for upgrades to mechanical, electrical and other aging building systems.
The project remains in the predesign stage. A preliminary schedule calls for construction to begin in mid-2027. Contracting solicitations will be released as planning and design work moves forward, but no firm dates have been announced.
Plans are in place for an estimated $37.7 million redevelopment of the Silver Arena at the Wyoming State Fairgrounds in Douglas. The project will convert the existing open-air arena into an approximately 90,625-square-foot enclosed multipurpose venue.
The facility is planned for equine competitions, livestock exhibitions, trade shows, concerts, motorsports and other large gatherings, expanding the fairgrounds’ capacity to host events throughout the year. Plans call for enclosing the existing dirt-and-pipe arena and installing a concrete event floor suitable for agricultural, entertainment and exhibition uses. Additional components will include climate-controlled building systems, concession areas, a warm-up arena, covered livestock stalls and supporting public and event spaces. A connection to the adjacent Pepsi Equine Center is also included, integrating both facilities into a larger complex with additional capacity for multi-day competitions, exhibitions and community gatherings.
Level 1 and Level 2 feasibility work has been completed, placing the project at the transition point between planning and full design. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028.
A $19 million renovation of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg has been announced by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania officials. The objective is to improve facility safety and modernize critical building systems. The effort will be led by the state’s Department of General Services.
The state-owned complex encompasses approximately 1 million square feet and hosts the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show along with exhibitions, competitions and other large-scale events throughout the year.
Major project components will address the facility’s roof, mechanical and electrical systems and security infrastructure. Work will include repairing or replacing the compromised Expo Hall roof and removing obsolete rooftop systems. Mechanical improvements will modernize aging HVAC equipment, including systems operating below capacity or relying on outdated refrigerants, along with associated electrical upgrades. The project will also upgrade security infrastructure by replacing surveillance equipment, servers and cameras while improving camera placement and coverage throughout the complex.
The project is currently advancing through design, with the design review phase scheduled through October 2027. According to published project timelines, construction is expected to begin in 2028.
A $47 million capital improvement program is planned for the Lansing Center, a convention and event facility in downtown Lansing, Michigan. The Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority oversees the city-owned venue, which was built to accommodate conventions, trade shows, meetings and community events near the state Capitol and Grand River.
Renovation work will address aging areas and systems throughout the facility. Exhibit hall improvements will include LED lighting, a modern sound and public-address system, refinished flooring and repairs to operable partitions, tracks, locks and doors. Additional components include card-access controls, replacement doors, upgraded ADA door operators, carpeting, interior finishes, expansion-joint repairs and sealing of cracked limestone walls. The broader program also includes updates to audiovisual equipment and other systems serving event operations and public circulation.
The project is currently in the planning and programming stages, with smaller facility improvements already advancing separately. Current planning documents indicate that construction will be underway in 2028. Professional services and construction solicitations are anticipated as the scope and implementation plan advance.
Dane County officials have announced a $129 million expansion and modernization project for the exhibition hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The project represents the first major construction component of the campus’ planned long-term redevelopment program. Work will be organized into three phases to accommodate the convention and event facility’s scheduled activities while portions of the building are expanded or renovated.
At completion, the building will encompass approximately 382,300 gross square feet. The first phase will add approximately 152,900 square feet on the south end for exhibition space, a banquet hall, meeting rooms, storage areas, a commercial kitchen and a connector to the adjacent hotel. The second phase will replace the administration building and original Forum area with approximately 70,000 square feet of exhibition and meeting space, offices and a mezzanine-level multipurpose room. The final phase will modernize mechanical, electrical, fire-alarm and other building systems within 160,000 square feet of existing space. Additional work will include new entrance plazas, pedestrian improvements, a rideshare drop-off area, and receiving and storage facilities.
The project remains in design and preconstruction planning following local approvals in July 2026. A preliminary schedule calls for the three construction phases to proceed from 2028 through 2031. General contracting and related construction solicitations are expected as design advances.
The projects represent only a portion of a much larger wave of public investment in event facilities. Major modernization and expansion initiatives are also advancing in Los Angeles, Orlando, Fort Worth, Las Vegas and other cities as public owners compete for conventions, sporting events, concerts and visitor spending. The opportunities extend well beyond traditional construction contracts. Architects, engineers, technology firms, security providers, audiovisual contractors, building-system specialists, accessibility consultants and other service providers will all find significant contracting opportunities as projects advance. Because many of the initiatives are still in planning or design phases, there is time for interested firms to identify decision-makers, track funding and delivery strategies, and position themselves before solicitations reach the marketplace.
