Letter to the Editor: Why a convention center, hotel matters for Springfield’s future

Dear editor,

Cities occasionally face moments that shape their direction for decades. Springfield may be standing at one of those moments now.

The proposal to build a modern convention center with an attached headquarters hotel is often framed as a construction project. It is not. It is a civic decision about whether Springfield is ready to fully embrace its role as the economic and organizational center of southwest Missouri.

Some describe the proposal as a gift to the city. A better question is whether it is a tool – one that allows Springfield to serve the businesses, institutions, families and visitors who already rely on it as a regional hub.

Springfield’s role has expanded. Beyond being the region’s retail, health care and cultural center, the city has become the place where the broader regional economy is coordinated. Through the Springfield Regional Economic Partnership, 10 surrounding counties collaborate on industrial growth, workforce development and business recruitment.

Springfield no longer serves only itself. It serves an entire region. For a city with that responsibility, the ability to host conferences, industry meetings and regional events is essential. A convention center connected to a headquarters hotel is infrastructure designed for that purpose. It is not a luxury. It is a missing piece.

Downtown momentum
Downtown Springfield’s progress is real, but it must be evaluated. Taxable sales data often shows growth in current dollars. When adjusted for inflation, real sales better reflect actual economic activity. In many downtowns, nominal growth masks stagnation beneath the surface.

Springfield faces that risk. Revitalization has moved the needle, but sustaining momentum will require new sources of visitation and spending. Without fresh catalysts, inflation alone can make performance look stronger than it truly is.

Private investment has carried downtown thus far. Over the past decade, roughly $450 million has flowed into the district, largely from private developers and local investors. Historic buildings have been restored, housing expanded, and restaurants and entertainment venues opened. Private capital took the risk.

Now the question is whether the city will provide the public infrastructure needed to support and protect that investment.

Rare financial opportunity
The financial structure of the convention center proposal makes this moment rare. Approximately $30 million in state funding is expected. A significant share of remaining costs would be covered by hotel and leisure taxes – revenue paid primarily by visitors, not residents.

Opportunities to leverage state dollars and visitor-generated revenue for long-term civic infrastructure do not appear often.

Missing piece of revitalization
Across the country, cities of Springfield’s size that have revitalized their downtowns share a common element: a convention center paired with a headquarters hotel. These facilities attract meetings, trade shows, conventions, youth competitions, sporting events and cultural gatherings.

Event and business travelers consistently spend more per visit than leisure tourists. Youth sports and event tourism alone have become economic drivers, requiring modern venues capable of hosting large numbers of participants and spectators.

Once established, convention activity creates a cycle. Events bring visitors. Visitors fill hotels. Hotels support restaurants and retail. Stronger businesses attract new investment. Improved amenities attract more events. Economists call this an urban development flywheel.

A major civic investment also sends a signal. When a city invests in its downtown, it signals confidence to developers, lenders and employers. That confidence often unlocks additional private investment, job growth and a stronger payroll base.

Springfield’s opportunity is reinforced by its relationship with Branson. Branson is an entertainment destination. Springfield serves as the region’s business, health care, education and retail center. Together, they form a complementary regional economy.

There is also a deeper consideration. Downtown represents the work and sacrifice of earlier generations. Investing in it honors that legacy.

Ultimately, this conversation is about hospitality. Successful cities welcome people, host ideas and create places where communities gather. A convention center becomes the city’s living room.

The real question is not whether Springfield can build a convention center. It is whether Springfield is ready to fully embrace its role as a regional capital.

The choice will define Springfield’s trajectory for generations.

—Peter Limcher, president and founder of City Development International and Missouri State University MBA graduate