Springfield Business Journal_2019-03-18

$2.00 · SBJ.NET MARCH 18-24, 2019 · VOL. 39, NO. 35 417 DRONE BIRD’S EYE VIEW The Bass Pro campus at Campbell Avenue and Sunshine Street is the focus of a feasibility study, which recommends a 100,000-square-foot convention center and three hotels in the vicinity. Center of Attention Feasibility study of convention center complex near Bass Pro pinpoints $1.1 billion impact by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net A feasibility study conducted by Hunden Strategic Partners laid out recommendations for a convention center and hotel package near Bass Pro Shops that the Chicago-based firm predicted would have a $1.1 billion eco- nomic impact over a 20-year period. The 136-page report was released Feb. 22, and it marks the firm’s third study of its kind conducted for the city dating back to 2011. A 2016 report considered the Battlefield Road and Highway 65 area, the Glenstone Avenue and Kearney Street corridor, and downtown next to the Springfield Expo Center for other conven- tion center sites. Of the three, downtown was considered the best option by Hunden. Tracy Kimberlin, president and CEO of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, w hich requested the third Hunden report, said all convention center options remain on the table. “Downtown has not been eliminated. Mat- ter of fact, no location has been eliminated,” he said. “Of the options, what we’re looking at is Bass Pro and downtown.” The CVB, the city of Springfield and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce are among community partners involved in the discussion for a large-scale convention center and hotel complex. Hunden was paid $79,188 for its work, Kimberlin said, with the city con- tributing $15,000 to the bill and the CVB fund- ing the remainder. Exploration In the new Hunden report, the au- thors recommended construction of a 100,600-square-foot convention center and a connected or adja- cent hotel. The report also calls for two other hotels near the Bass Pro campus at Camp- bell Avenue and Sun- shine Street and within walking distance of the convention center. Those include a 160- to 180-room Delta Hotels property or Embassy Suites and a 100- to 120-room Hampton Inn or Fairfield Inn. The main hotel is recommended with 220-300 rooms with 14,000 square feet of amenities including a ballroom, seven meeting rooms and a boardroom. “We’re interested in exploring it to see if it makes sense,” Jack Wlezien, Bass Pro commu- nications director, said of the report recom- mendations. Presented by The 40 young professionals who make up the 2019 class already are investing in the next generation of leaders. SPECIAL PUBLICATION STARTS ON PAGE 15 Tracy Kimberlin: All convention center options remain on the table. See STUDY on page 51