BOISE, Idaho
Greater Boise Auditorium District leaders have announced their intention to purchase new meeting, ballroom, and kitchen space adjacent to its current space that will allow the Boise Centre to serve a much larger segment of the national convention market.
“After years of exploring expansion scenarios, it appears we’ve finally come upon a unique solution that meets the requirements of the market and creates exciting opportunities for us and for Boise,” said District Vice Chairman Hy Kloc.
The developer on the project, The Gardner Company, recently completed construction of Idaho’s tallest building—the Zions Bank Building—across the street from the Boise Centre. In a signed letter of intent with the Gardner Company, the District has outlined plans to build:
• A 15,000-square-foot ballroom.
• A 7,000-square-foot commercial kitchen.
• An additional 14,000 square feet of meeting room space.
• And 7,000 square feet of pre-function space.
The new construction will nearly double the Boise Centre’s current 50,000 square feet.
The District has been operating the Boise Centre at capacity for several years; current bookings have forced the District to turn away conventions and have prevented the Centre from pursuing larger and more lucrative events.
“The proposed expansion plans will allow Boise to accommodate more visitors, and in turn, more people will be able to discover the magic of the Boise Valley," said Boise Mayor Dave Bieter, who applauded the actions of the District.
Boise Metro Chamber CEO Bill Connors also spoke at the announcement and underscored that the city’s business community is excited and prepared to accommodate greater numbers of visitors.
More About the Boise Centre
A ten-minute drive from Boise Airport, the Boise Centre is located in the heart of Boise’s downtown core and is within walking distance of the city’s most popular restaurants, retail and night-life venues. Other attractions include two semi-professional sports teams, a 25-mile greenbelt that runs along the Boise River, a burgeoning brewery scene, internationally recognized wine country, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails in the nearby foothills.
Though most major attractions and amenities are within walking distance, the expanded convention center will be located near a transit center, making it easy for travelers to explore the city and beyond.
