Convention Center Project
In December 2013, the Denton City Council, the University of North Texas, and O’Reilly Hotel Partners Denton (OHPD), a private developer, approved a development agreement to construct a convention center and convention center hotel.
The convention center is currently
estimated to be 69,570 sq/ft and includes a ballroom of approximately 26,400
sq/ft. A facility of this size will accommodate conventions of up to 650
delegates, and can accommodate banquets and other one-day seminars and events
for 1,800 attendees. The City would fund
and own the convention center which is estimated to cost $28 million to build.
The ultimate size of the convention center will be determined once final
construction pricing is obtained. The City is funding the convention center only and not the hotel.
The hotel is planned to be an Embassy Suites of approximately 318 rooms (twelve stories tall), but at a minimum will have 275 rooms (nine stories tall) and includes a Houlihan’s restaurant. Both would be funded by OHPD and represent an approximate $60 million investment.
Both the hotel and convention center will be located on property owned by UNT near Apogee Stadium and leased to the City and OHPD. The proposal includes plans for the City to sub-lease the convention center to OHPD which would be operated and managed by O’Reilly Hospitality Management (OHM) (same operator as the hotel).
Additional information on the project, including responses to frequently
asked questions, the Master Development Agreement, the market study for the
project, and other information can be found on the following pages.
Convention Center Project FAQs