Buffalo Convention Center to Attract Thousands of Visitors

As summer continues to heat up, the Buffalo Convention Center follow the movementsince four events planned in the establishment should bring more than 15,000 visitors by Augustas well as $7 million in the regional economy.

The convention center will host the American Cheese Society’s annual conference this month, the North American Science Fiction Convention, the PREA National CoordinationWorking Group of Nators and 2024 State Bar Exam, for a combined total of 5,600 visitors.

In August, the Oddities and Curiosities Expo 2024 will take placeIt is expected to attract the 10,000 visitors expected at the convention center.

“These are conferences that we would not have been possible in the past, but for the investment that the county government has made in the convention center, as well as the great team that is here at the convention center,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said Monday at a news conference at the Franklin Street site.

Poloncarz said THE new updates instead of the event, as part of a related $6.1 million spending initiative approved in December 2021, played an important role in securing future suitors. included one more modern facade And new paint in the ballroom.

“There is more money that will be brought in just in the coming weeks in our community than what Erie County has spent on facade improvements over the past two years,” he said.

The new coat of paint made the space appear larger, Poloncarz said, adding that more updates are coming to the convention center lobby, as well investments in improving Wi-Fi.

He conceded that larger market Cities like New York and Chicago will remain dominant in attracting conventions, but Buffalo should be considered a contender with cities of similar size.

“We knew we could compete with the Hartfordthe Grand Rapids, the Pittsburgh Aand the The Clevelands for regional conferences,” he said.

Convention center Vice President and General Manager Jeff Calkins also praised the renovations and the impact they had on attracting business to the location.

“The impact of people from out of town coming to this facility makes a difference when they see a new light installation like“I came in,” he said.

Patrick Kaler, president and CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, said the work done by the sales team to the tourist agency Also played a big role in attract upcoming conventions.

“We have used the post-pandemic period to restructure, reimagine and re-energize the work we do to bringg “I’m going to do business in Buffalo,” he said.

Visit Buffalo Niagara is fully staffed again since the pandemic, he added, including hiring a salesperson in Washington, D.C., to help improve national outreach.

Looking beyond this summer, Poloncarz said the convention center already has 22 national and regional conventions booked for 2025-26 that are expected to draw more than 22,000 visitors and have an economic impact of nearly 30 million dollars.

“This shows what you can do with a easealthough it is old, if you invest and renew it, it will bring new conventions here,” the county manager said. “And that’s just the beginning.”