Dallas developer Jack Matthews is overseeing the redevelopment of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, a project valued between $3.3 billion and $3.5 billion. Matthews, president of his namesake firm and operating under Inspire Dallas, described the scale and complexity of the effort as “herding 26 cats,” according to comments reported by the Dallas Business Journal.
The first phase of this seven-part master plan will reorient the convention center from its current layout to a north-south direction, extending it toward Interstate 30. The redesign includes a new downtown-facing “Great Hall” entry, a rooftop ballroom, and consolidated meeting spaces that will span two city blocks rather than six. The upgraded facility will offer one million square feet of space for events, with larger ballrooms and exhibition areas intended to keep Dallas competitive in attracting international gatherings.
Most progress so far has not been visible to the public. Crews working for Inspire Dallas have focused on site testing, zoning requirements, and addressing unexpected issues such as buried pipes and old gas lines beneath the site.
“Our job is to look at all of those things, oversee it, control it, massage, push and threaten whatever it takes to get the right answer,” Matthews told city leaders.
The construction timeline faces additional challenges because FIFA plans to use existing convention halls as its International Broadcast Center during next year’s World Cup. This requires demolition and building work to be phased around approximately 485,000 square feet dedicated to broadcast operations.
City officials anticipate that the redeveloped convention center will generate about $1.6 billion in economic impact for Dallas. Sixty-four conventions are already booked for future dates at the new facility. To support early phases of construction—including upgrades at nearby Dallas Memorial Arena and Pioneer Plaza—the City Council approved a $1 billion bridge loan with JPMorgan in June.
Matthews has been active in developing land in the Cedars area since 1997, investing more than $300 million there over time. He sees this convention center overhaul as a crucial step in connecting the southwest corner of downtown with other mixed-use developments.
“The southwest corner of the city is one of the last pieces to come to life,” he said. “The convention center helps that opportunity happen.”
