Indianapolis just opened a game-changing 254,000 square foot expansion of the Indiana Convention Center that will boost the center from the 32nd largest trade show venue in the United States to the 16th largest trade show venue.
The 5 million project now boasts 566,600 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space, plus 83 meeting and ballroom spaces. When combined with the attached Lucas Oil Stadium, the facilities offer 749,100 sq. ft. of exhibit space.
In addition, the Indiana Convention Center now is connected via climate-controlled skywalks to more hotel rooms (4,717) than any other convention center in the U.S., according to Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association officials. 
One of the four hotels connected to the center will be the world’s largest JW Marriott, also opening in the next few weeks.
The expansion’s ribbon-cutting ceremony featured an aerial arts performance company, AirKISS, followed by a “turning over of the keys.”
David R. Frick, chairman of the Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority that was responsible for the financing, design and construction of the center, presided over the occasion.
“The grand opening of the expanded Indiana Convention Center is a memorable and historic day for Indiana,” Frick said.
He added, “The expansion will enhance the reputation of our state and city as a world-class leader for conventions, trade shows, meetings and sporting and other special events.”
An independent study found that the expansion of the Indiana Convention Center, along with Lucas Oil Stadium, would generate at least .25 billion in economic benefits to Central Indiana during its first 10 years of operation, as well as create 4,200 new permanent jobs.
The expansion is paying off, with several shows booking future space. The Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo signed on for 2012-2014 and will attract more than 12,000 attendees annually and generate an estimated million in visitor spending during its three-year stretch, according to ICVA officials.
Another event, the International Motorsports Industry Show, which ran the past two years in Indianapolis, originally signed up through 2015 in the city and then decided to revise its contract so that the show would stay “through the life of its convention,” according to ICVA officials.
So far, as a direct result of the expansion of the Indiana Convention Center, the city already has booked and retained conventions that will generate .3 billion in economic impact for Indianapolis.
