Convention authority spends $52 million for nearby lot

Catch up quick: A feasibility study last year recommended an expansion of 587,000 square feet in order to meet demand. The convention center has accrued millions of dollars in reserves because tourism taxes and fees have come in higher than budgeted over the years.

By the numbers: The sale of the 1.3-acre Kefauver property by the U.S. General Services Administration cost $52 million.

• "Being adjacent to our current facility, it's uniquely valuable for future expansion," Convention Center Authority CEO Charles Starks said.