HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7909 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7909
April 18, 1995
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
ex Subject: WILL ROGERS M[EMORLAL CONIPLEX/FORT WORTH TARRANT
1873 COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION/ADDITION STUDY
BACKGROUND
The Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau(CVB), in conjunction with the Fort Worth/Tarrant
County Convention Center (FW/TCCC) recently hired the consultant firm of Lyb,rand/HOK, Inc.
to conduct a study into the possible expansion of the Convention Center. The cost of the study is
$65,000 and will be paid with Convention Center"buy-down funds", $200,000 in bed tax which the
City sets aside annually to offset lost revenue when the FW/TCCC must rent the center at below
market rates.
DISCUSSION
The tourism industry is a large economic activity. Nationally,tourism is one of the fastest growing
industries. Fort Worth has three major tourist attractions: the Historic Stockyards, the Cultural
District and the Downtown. Together, the three areas attract the vast majority of visitors to Fort
Worth.
In an attempt to enhance the competitive ability of the FW/TCCC, the Convention and Visitors
Board hired Lybrand/HOK, Inc. to perform a study which is composed of six phases:
Phase I Market Analysis and Convention Center Event Mix Analysis
Phase 11 Physical Analysis: Facility and Urban Design
Phase III Facility Needs Analysis
Phase IV Physical Guidelines: Facility and Urban
Phase V Facility Analysis and Economic Impact Analysis
Phase VI Cost, Funding and Implementation Analysis
In the Cultural District, the Will Rogers Memorial Complex (WRMC) hosts a growing number of
events which contribute significantly to the overall economic impact of the tourism industry in Fort
Worth.
Because the FW/TCCC and Will Rogers Memorial Complex are similar facilities, the suggestion
has been made that the FW/TCCC study be expanded to include the WRMC. Various expansion
ideas have been suggested for both facilities. A joint study-of both facilities would identify the most
viable possibilities for each without creating competition between the two.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
J,
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7909
April 18,1995
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
01 92
X Subject: WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL COMPLEX/FORT WORTH TARRANT
1873 COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION/ADDITION STUDY
The scope of the work for the Will Rogers Memorial Complex portion of the study would include:
■ Study possible expansion, renovation or additions. Consider Will Rogers and FW/TCCC as
a single, albeit, complex system which leases the most suitable space to local, regional and
national meetings.
■ Conduct a market survey to determine the current and potential customer base for the Will
Rogers Memorial Complex.
■ Review, inventory and identify possible building reconfiguration at both facilities to expand
Fort Worth's tourism capability.
Because of the commitment to Lybrand/HOK, Inc. to study the Convention Center, the addition of
WR-MC now would avoid costly administrative and start-up cost that would be associated with
another study corninissioned later. Since the funding of the FW/TCCC study is the bed tax buy-
down funds allocated by the City each year, the City is agreeable to using buy-down funds to pay
for any additional costs of including the Will Rogers Memorial Complex.
Discussions with Tarrant County, the CVB and consultants indicate that the inclusion of the Will
Rogers Memorial Complex is a viable option. If Council has no objections, the CV13 will be asked
to include the Will Rogers Memorial Complex in its study.
Bob Terrel
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS