Laying the groundwork From the cover
The impact
What you need to know
There have been plans to include a hotel since the event center opened in 1990, Jarrell said. With a hotel, the center has the potential to accom- modate out-of-town conferences and events that require nearby lodging, and may have previously passed over the city. “Even though we’re very busy here, it would change our business model and allow us to con- tribute more to the hotel occupancy tax, which is what helps pay for [the event center],” Jarrell said. The city is still searching for the right hotel brand to occupy space near the event center. It has contracted Hunden Partners, a Chicago-based firm specializing in destination real estate develop- ment, to analyze the site and provide a recommen- dation for an operator. “[We’ll] have a new opportunity to attract some customers that we really never have had before because of adding those resources,” Muns said.
large, beautiful mature trees, but they did limit the ability for the area to be utilized for events,” Del Turco said. In addition to city-funded projects, the city is pursuing funding from the state during the 2025 legislative session that could be used to offset development costs. Muns said the city is seeking approval as a qualified hotel project, which requires a hotel on city-owned land and provides extra access to sales tax, mixed-beverage tax and the hotel occupancy tax. With the additional public funding, Muns said a hotel development could be more desirable in the area. Jarrell said he expects that the improvements should make the site easier to build a hotel in front of the event center once the core infrastructure is in place, which is expected early next year. “All they will have to do is just come build a hotel,” Jarrell said.
The city has allocated around $7.75 million for the street and courtyard projects within the Community Investment Program, an annual allocation for infrastructure projects which typically utilizes bond funding. Josh McNeil, a city engineer and project manager for the street construction, said the new street grid will alleviate congestion, provide on-site parking and allow access for future development at the site. McNeil added that along with improvements to the street grid, there are plans to provide new landscaping and install underground utilities. Improvements to the 1.5-acre courtyard at the Plano Event Center include a new fireplace, two bistro areas that will sell alcohol, internet connectivity and audiovisual equipment, said Elizabeth Del Turco, landscape architect supervisor and project manager for courtyard project. “The former configuration had some very
Plano Event Center use
Parking New roads Plano Event Center projects
DES MOINES DR.
Sporting event and wedding
Other
Concert, festival and trade show Social
2
1 Courtyard renovation
Plano Event Center
Meeting Conference and off-site company events
June 2023- November 2024
$3.2M
24
14
2023
2 Street grid
1
97
28
55
27
February 2024- February 2025
10
$4.55M
11
2019
N
152
57
55
38
SOURCE: CITY OF PLANO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: CITY OF PLANO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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