Overview

• City officials held the groundbreaking Wednesday for the downtown Los Angeles Convention Center expansion designed to support LA28 events and boost the local economy.
• Mayor Karen Bass, who gave final approval last week, called it a serious investment and pledged cost-saving measures and streamlined processes while acknowledging the risks.
• City projections cite more than 15,000 jobs, $652 million in general fund revenue over 30 years, and over $150 million in additional annual visitor spending.
• Tourism leaders say demand is building, with at least 100 major citywide conventions identified as ready to book once the expansion is delivered.
• The build is slated to be mostly complete by March 2028 with an IOC handover in June, though internal analysts and a dissenting council member warn the schedule has little slack and local reporting estimates total costs with borrowing at about $5.9 billion.