Early look at the Von Braun Center's $200M update
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The expansion project coincides with the city's planned improvements along Pinhook Creek. Image: Courtesy Von Braun Center
The Von Braun Center is moving ahead with a $200 million expansion, and it offered the media an early look at what it's got planned.
Why it matters: Demand for events at Huntsville's downtown civic center is higher than ever, highlighted by the recent full-capacity Space and Missile Defense Symposium.
By the numbers: SMD this year brought approximately 320 exhibiting companies and 10,000 attendees to the VBC Aug. 11-13, the VBC says in a release.
- That marks the event as the largest in SMD history, with an economic impact of more than $6.9 million.
Yes, but: More than 250 companies hoping for space at the event were left on this year's waiting list, the VBC says, and 97 companies are already on the waiting list for 2027, which has already sold out of exhibit space.
Zoom in: Work is set to begin in November, per the release, with additional details and project information to be announced closer to that time.
What they're saying: "We have organizations that want to bring more people, more exhibitors and more business to Huntsville, and in some cases we're simply running out of room," Steve Maples, VBC executive director, said in the release.
Catch up quick: Huntsville's recently enacted Tax Increment Financing District, TIF 9, is how the city plans to finance the $200 million project along with other area infrastructure improvements.
- It also is working in concert with the city's plans to turn a stretch of Pinhook Creek running alongside the VBC into a linear park and greenway as part of its ambitious PARC project.
The bottom line: Jennifer Moore, president and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau, noted that events like SMD bring visitors who stay in local hotels, eat in local restaurants and visit local attractions.
- "The VBC expansion gives us another important tool to compete for these events," she said in the release, "and continue growing the economic and community impact they bring."