Live Construction Feed
Please be patient - may take a moment to load.
The development of the Wilmington Convention Center is now underway. The convention center will serve as an economic catalyst for the northern downtown riverfront, not only creating new jobs and increasing our tax base, but also attracting other new businesses.
Review the Convention Center Fact Sheet here.
Convention Center Opportunities
Opportunities will be abundant for the new convention center for small, minority and women-owned businesses, but your business must be certified as:
- Disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) through the NCDOT; OR
- Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) through the NC Department of Administration; OR
- Minority or Women-owned Business (M/WBE) by New Hanover County.
View the contract schedule and contracting opportunities.
Where will the Convention Center be located?
The convention center will be built on a 9-acre site just north of the existing Coastline Inn on Nutt Street. The project will include greenspace along the river, as well as a 581-space parking deck. A privately funded full service hotel is expected to be located adjacent to the center.
The convention center’s location in northern downtown, in conjunction with the new PPD world headquarters facility, will be vital to ensuring the growth and success of that developing area.
When will it be built?
Groundbreaking for the Convention Center occurred in December 2007, and the completion and grand opening of the center is expected in late 2009/early 2010.
How is the Convention Center being funded?
The North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation in 2003 that created a 3% occupancy tax on hotel rooms in the area which will provide the money necessary to fund the Convention Center. The convention center is not being built with property tax dollars.
Why do we need a Convention Center?
The convention center will provide approximately 1,200 new jobs in the area, stimulating our local economy and helping to drive the continuing success of our city. In addition, the convention center will generate $1.5 million per year in combined city and county taxes.
The convention center will have the capacity to host events of 1,000-1,500 people, which will attract new groups to our city. When completed, the convention center will be the largest on the North Carolina coast. Currently, more than 40% of South Carolina’s business for their convention center comes from North Carolina, business that could instead be brought here to Wilmington.
What will the Convention Center look like?
The Convention Center’s structure is made to be reminiscent of an old port city, keeping in line with our historical beginnings. The designers used angles and lines similar to that of a ship’s sail, giving the Convention Center a classic, yet unique look.
The convention center will consist of:
- 12,000 sq. ft. grand ballroom
- 30,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space
- 1,800 sq. ft. of board room/meeting space
- 12,000+ sq. ft. of pre-function space
To see the proposed design, click here.
Will there be a hotel?
A 157-room Hotel Indigo will be built next to the Convention Center. The hotel is a full-service, boutique style hotel and will be privately funded and operated. To see more about Hotel Indigo, click here.
In addition, a 100-room expansion of the existing Best Western Hotel is planned.
Contact us
If you are interested in doing business with the convention center, contact the city’s Purchasing division at (910) 341-7830.
If you are interested in holding an event at the new convention center, contact the Wilmington/Cape Fear Visitors Convention and Visitors Bureau:
Local: (910) 341-4030
Toll free: 1 (877) 406-2356
Fax: (910) 341-4029
Email: visit@capefearcoast.com