Dallas considers $1 billion loan for convention center renovations
KERA | By Penelope Rivera
Yfat Yossifor / KERA
The city of Dallas could take out a $1 billion loan to help fund the construction of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center as it prepares to host the 2026 FIFA men’s soccer World Cup — a proposal that raised concerns for some city council members during a briefing Wednesday.
The project, which would expand the convention center and re-envision downtown Dallas, is expected to cost between $3.3 billion and $3.5 billion — a stark increase from the estimated $1.9 billion in 2021.
The “bridge loan” would help move the project forward by providing funds needed to enter contracts for design and construction and pay vendors.