Pasadena Convention Center Slated for $50M Facelift

Pasadena’s 40-year-old convention center is past due for a renovation. The town narrowly voted to spend $50 million on revamping and expanding the center and municipal fairgrounds.

The project includes the addition of a 110,000-square-foot multipurpose arena with 7,500 seats to create an approximately 153,000-square-foot complex. The existing building will be remodeled to update meeting rooms, restrooms and finishes. Other plans for the roughly 300-acre property at 7902 Fairmont Parkway include improving rodeo and livestock facilities.

The venue hosts major events annually, including the Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Strawberry Festival and gun shows. The town expects to get more and larger events once the improvements are completed. Contractors and an architect will be selected at a later date.

The Pasadena Economic Development Council is funding the project through sales tax revenue bonds, which will not affect the sales or property tax rates for Pasadena residents.