ROCHESTER, Minn.
Rochester's Mayo Civic Center is likely headed for an expansion. The facility has been pushing for the move for several years, and a city council vote last week was expected to go the way of the building.
The Civic Center features an arena that can host as many as 2,000 people for a banquet, an auditorium that can hold up to 3,400 attendees, an exhibit hall which can have 148 booths, and a presentation hall which can seat up to 1,172.
City Administrator Stevan Kvenvold says the expansion is all about staying competitive with nearby cities like St. Cloud and Duluth. "Make the facility available to larger meetings and conventions so that the convention bureau can pursue those types of events." Funding for the upgrade is expected to come from a state bonding bill as well as an increase in the city's hotel/motel tax from four to seven percent.
