Las Vegas Convention Center Expansion Debuts with Major Post-Pandemic Trade Show

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) cut the ribbon finally on the new, $1 billion, 1.4 million square foot West Hall expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) followed by doors opening to Informa Market’s World of Concrete, the first major convention to return to Las Vegas in the post-pandemic era.

In addition, the much anticipated LVCC Loop or underground tunnel developed by Elon Musk’s The Boring Company to shuttle convention attendees throughout the 200-acre campus in all-electric Tesla vehicles, also became fully operational. 

The arrival of World of Concrete signals the return of meetings and conventions to Las Vegas, the top trade show destination in North America for more than two decades. The addition of the West Hall brings the total square feet of meeting space in the destination to 14 million and makes the LVCC the second largest facility in the country. During a normal year, the meeting and convention industry represents $11.4 billion in economic impact to the area. Trade shows facilitate $325 billion in business sales and 1.3 million jobs globally each year.

World of Concrete’s arrival comes on the heels of Las Vegas’ full reopening to 100 percent capacity on June 1.

“This convention reinvigorates our commitment to be bold in how we envision the future of infrastructure and recovery of our state and this is only the beginning,” Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said during the ribbon cutting ceremony. “We are back in Las Vegas and there is no better or safer place to come to have a convention than Las Vegas.”

“We are excited to welcome our convention customers back to Las Vegas and to our new West Hall, reigniting the meetings and convention industry,” said Steve Hill, LVCVA president and CEO. “Today is not only a great day for our city, it’s a great day for the meetings and conventions industry across Las Vegas and across the United States.” 

The West Hall features a contemporary design, an abundance of natural light and 600,000 square feet of exhibition space, including 328,000 square feet of column-free space, the largest column-free exhibition space in North America. An open-air atrium features a 10,000-square-foot digital screen developed by Samsung, the largest digital experience in a convention center in the U.S. A 14,000-square-foot terrace can hold receptions of up to 2,000 attendees, offering spectacular views of the Las Vegas Strip. Construction on the facility began in September 2018 and continued throughout the pandemic.

“We are thrilled to be returning to the live event format, especially in the home of the exhibitions industry in the U.S., Las Vegas,” said Nan Walsh, President, North America at Informa Markets. “There is an unparalleled magic about in-person connection—from sharing laughs with old friends, creating new ones, learning from industry experts, and seeing and feeling the latest products and innovations. We are so happy to be the first large-scale trade show to return to the show floor in the U.S., and the first to use the Las Vegas Convention Center’s incredible new West Hall, and through that partnership I believe we are signaling a return to business and connection that is needed now more than ever.”

Las Vegas Convention Center Loop

The $52.5 million Las Vegas Convention Center Loop connects the West Hall to the LVCC’s North and South Halls via two one-way vehicular tunnels, including three passenger stations. The system serves as a fun and quick transportation solution to move convention attendees throughout the sprawling campus approximately 40 feet below ground in less than two minutes, while a walk could take 20 minutes or more. The Las Vegas Convention Center Loop is first commercial project of its kind by The Boring Company.

Plans have been announced to expand the system throughout the resort corridor. Known as the Vegas Loop, the expanded system will ease traffic congestion and offer a new transportation option for visitors from as far north as Downtown Las Vegas, throughout the Strip and as far south as Allegiant Stadium.