Commissioner Eric Allen, Cobb County commissioner for District 2, hosted an episode of his Inside the District program where two convention center representatives described a $190,000,000 renovation and rebranding of the former Cobb Galleria property to the Cobb Convention Center Atlanta.

"Phase 1 is the renovation of the exhibit hall and ballroom building. And then phase 2, it will be the demolition of the Galleria Special Team Hall and the rebuild of where that building used to stand, and it will be all new meeting space," said Dale Gustafson, director of sales and marketing for the convention center, who gave a timeline and scope for the project. Gustafson said Phase 1 will be complete in January 2026 and Phase 2 in 2027.

The renovation is occurring in two phases. The first phase focuses on a full closure and renovation of the ballroom and exhibit hall, with new carpet, wall coverings, chandeliers and a new sound system; Gustafson said the center is "fully closed" during that work and will reopen in January 2026 with the renovated ballroom. The second phase will remove an existing portion of the Galleria and replace it with expanded meeting space, including a 7,200-square-foot junior ballroom, an approximately 11,000-square-foot outdoor courtyard, 12 new meeting rooms, a new executive boardroom, a new parking deck and a new grand entryway connecting to the pedestrian bridge toward The Battery Atlanta.

Karen Caro, a convention center staff member, said the project will also include a hotel pad where the current red parking deck sits; she said the hotel is anticipated "in 2028 or beyond." Caro added the county will roll out the new branding as "Cobb Convention Center Atlanta" and that a website toolkit with weekly updates and a fly-through animation will show progress in real time.

Gustafson described the market opportunity driving the investment: "The convention market has shifted a lot since COVID ... the sweet spot for conventions we found is the mid sized conventions. And that's what boutique convention centers like ours really go after and cater to." He said the center aims to court mid-sized associations and corporate conventions that want a walkable campus with 1,700–2,000 hotel rooms within walking distance.

Officials cited the center's economic impact as a justification for the work. Gustafson said the facility has generated about $4,000,000,000 in economic impact since opening in 1994 and currently hosts "about 250" meetings and events a year, including 12–18 multi-day conventions that bring out-of-town attendees who stay in local hotels and spend at restaurants and shops.

Construction partners named in the discussion include RJTR, Holder Construction and Impact (the management company). Commissioner Allen emphasized the project’s role in leveraging existing Cumberland Campus assets — The Battery Atlanta, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center and other nearby venues — to increase tourism and business events in Cobb County.

No formal votes or government actions were recorded during the conversation; the segment was an informational update on the project and branding. Caro and Gustafson urged listeners to follow the convention center website for construction updates and the public reopening dates.

The center is closed for Phase 1 work and is scheduled to reopen in January 2026; Phase 2 and the expanded meeting space are expected in 2027, with a potential hotel development after that.