Assemble Lincoln, the organization overseeing the development of Lincoln, Nebraska’s new Downtown Convention Center project, has selected the Garfield Public/Private site near S. 13th and M streets as the location of a new convention center.
The organization selected the site based on a number of criteria, including site fundamentals and utilities, community integration and growth opportunities, accessibility, connectivity and environmental impact. The convention center would be accompanied by an adjacent, full-service hotel with a proposed 315 hotel rooms catered to convention-goers.
“I applaud the diligent work of the Assemble Lincoln committee in evaluating all the possible locations for the siting of the new downtown convention center,” said Mike Flood, Nebraska’s First District Representative, in a press release. “The Garfield site will serve as a connector between the Haymarket and Downtown to the State Capitol. Congratulations to Lincoln on this exciting next step for your community.”
The announcement of the convention center site is the latest step in the Vitality Lincoln strategic plan, a project presented in February 2023 by Jason Ball, president and CEO of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, that outlines a vision for Lincoln’s economic future. The project seeks to develop destination assets and facilities to attract visitors and events to the Lincoln, Nebraska, area and includes plans for the downtown convention center, a reimagined Lincoln-based music festival and the creation of mixed-use activity hubs across the city.
“Today’s announcement marks important progress towards a central element of the Vitality Lincoln Strategic Plan,” Ball said in a press release. “A downtown convention center will greatly enhance our ability to attract meetings and groups to our community. This is a tremendous opportunity for the Visit Lincoln division of the Lincoln Chamber to continue growing Lincoln as a destination as the tourism economy evolves.”
