Committee approves phased plan to advance Los Angeles Convention Center expansion, conditions signage approval

The Economic Development and Jobs Committee voted unanimously Friday to reengage contract negotiations for a phased expansion and modernization of the Los Angeles Convention Center, but conditioned further action on securing state and Caltrans approval for freeway-facing signage and on department vetting of the phased delivery plan.

The committee approved the chair’s motion — moved by Chair Price and carried 5–0 — instructing the City Administrative Officer to continue negotiations with AEG Plenary Conventions LA under a phased construction approach, require a report from the Fire Department, Bureau of Engineering, Bureau of Contract Administration and LADWP within 30 days on feasibility of the phased delivery, and make signage approval a precondition for final project agreement recommendation to council.

The vote advances a project estimated in the joint CAO/CLA report to cost about $2.2 billion in total: roughly $1.7 billion in construction, $84–$100 million in preconstruction and early works costs, and about $400 million in city-retained costs and contingencies. The CAO and Chief Legislative Analyst told the committee the city would need to issue debt and would not begin debt service until the expansion was fully operational in fiscal 2028–29.

Councilman Tim McCosker, speaking near the start of the meeting, urged the committee to give “direction to staff to do all three of those things” — reduce construction and operations costs and maximize revenue — so that the project would lower financing costs. “If we get out of the convention business, we might as well get out of the Downtown LA business,” McCosker said.

Max Reyes, senior director of economic policy for Mayor Karen Bass, told the committee the mayor “reaffirms your strong support for the convention center expansion and…