Las Vegas CVA moves ahead on Global Business District

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) Board of Directors has approved the purchase of the historic Riviera Hotel & Casino's 26-acre site as the cornerstone for its planned Las Vegas Global Business District.    

Under the agreement, the LVCVA will purchase the site for a total of $182.5 million. The $2.3 billion project is the largest economic development initiative the LVCVA has undertaken since the Las Vegas Convention Center was originally built in the late 1950s. 

The expansion project is expected to lead to an additional 480,000 new attendees as current conventions grow and through attracting an estimated 20 new trade shows and conventions.

The project will be completed in two phases, with the first phase focusing on the Riviera site and including 750,000 square feet of new exhibit space and 187,500 square feet of supporting meeting space as part of the new 1.8-million-square-foot expansion. Phase two focuses on renovating the existing convention center and includes a 100,000-square-foot general session space and another 100,000 square feet of meeting space. 

Once construction begins, the entire project is expected to take five to eight years to complete.