Chattanooga convention center pumps $900 million into economy over 30 years

Mike Shuford, left, executive director of the Carter Street Corporation, and Jimmy Hudson, chairman of the Carter Street Corporation talk about the past 30-years at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Mike Shuford, left, executive director of the Carter Street Corporation, and Jimmy Hudson, chairman of the Carter Street Corporation talk about the past 30-years at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

By Dave Flessner May 26, 2016 7 min read

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Trade center at 30Convention center pumps $900 million into economy over 30 years

Mike Shuford, executive director of the Carter Street Corporation, and Jimmy Hudson, chairman of the Carter Street Corporation stand in the kitchen area and talk about updates to the 30-year-old Chattanooga Convention Center.

Mike Shuford, right, executive director of the Carter Street Corporation, stand in the back hallway that runs the entire length of the 30-year-old Chattanooga Convention Center. Jimmy Hudson, chairman of the Carter Street Corporation, walks with him during a recent tour of the facility.

As a new show is being constructed last week, Mike Shuford, executive director of the Carter Street Corporation, stands and talks about the 30-year history of the Chattanooga Convention Center.

By the numbers

‘ Over $900 million – Projected economic impact from the trade center since its opening in 1985 * $6.2 million – operating budget for 2015 for the convention center * 100,000 – Square feet of column-free exhibit space * 21 – Number of meeting rooms * 221,976 – Number of convention and trade center attendees in 2015 * 446 – Number of events last year at the convention center First event: Tri-State Home Show on April 15, 1985 Biggest convention: Precept Ministries in August 2003 with 8,000 delegates and an estimated 9,113 hotel room nights Biggest overall generator: The annual cheerleading convention every January since 2002 which books about 2,500 hotel rooms and has an economic impact estimated at $6 million a year Biggest single meal: Shaw Industries banquet for 3,500 persons with Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett

Trade center at a glance

Owner: Carter Street Corp. Investment: $46 million initial facility and $52 million expansion in 2003 Economic impact: $900 million History: Opened in 1985 and expanded in 2003 Government support: $500,000 from the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County Executive director: Mike Shuford Staff: 39 full time and about 40 temporary workers Board: Jim Hudson, Curtis Johnson, Hicks Armor, Paul McDaniel, Bill Raines, Don Mercer and Anne Wilkins.

In the early 1980s, when Chattanooga was considering whether to build a publicly funded convention center, many of those in Chattanooga’s tourism industry didn’t back the idea.

The original developer of the Chattanooga Choo Choo, B. Allen Casey, didn’t like the potential competition for his hotel and banquet complex from a bigger convention center. E.Y. Chapin IV, then the president of Rock City Gardens and chairman of the Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau, spoke out against the trade center idea during one of the bureau’s annual meetings, claiming local government shouldn’t compete with private enterprise.

But 30 years after the government-owned trade center opened in downtown Chattanooga – and a decade and a half after its expansion — the complex has won over most of its skeptics by helping attract more than 200,000 visitors a year and adding more than $900 million in economic benefits for Chattanooga over its life.