New Convention Center Hoped For

A PLAN TO BUILD A NEW CONVENTION CENTER IN DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE IS GAINING MOMENTUM.

MAYOR KARL DEAN HAS BEEN VISITING OTHER CITIES TO SEE THEIR CONVENTION CENTERS.... AND HE'S ALREADY THROWN HIS SUPPORT BEHIND THE IDEA.

AS FOX 17'S JOHN DUNN REPORTS... BUSINESS LEADERS SAY A NEW FACILITY WOULD BRING IN 7-HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

C-M-A AWARDS WEEK IN NASHVILLE MEANS LOTS OF TOURISTS IN TOWN ENJOYING ALL THINGS MUSIC CITY...

WHILE THERE'S PLENTY OF THINGS TO DO, SOME WILL TELL YOU THERE'S STILL SOMETHING MISSING.

Butch Spyridon / Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau: "In order for us to grow as a city and grow as a destination, there's only one thing missing...and that's capacity."

"CAPACITY" TO HOLD LARGE CONVENTIONS.

A PROBLEM THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE HILTON DOWNTOWN KNOWS WELL.

Ray Waters, Hilton General Manager: "With the existing convention center we just don't have enough meeting space to handle all the events that want to be downtown."

BUT TONIGHT, THOSE IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY HAVE HOPE.

THEY SEE NASHVILLE'S NEW MAYOR... AS THE KEY TO A NEW CONVENTION CENTER.

Ray Waters / Hilton Downtown: "We now see that there is a new breath of fresh air, and that we will have a new convention center at the right time."

Butch Spyridon: "He has hit the ground running, exceeded our expectations."

MAYOR KARL DEAN SAYS THAT RENEWED CONFIDENCE IS WELL FOUNDED.

Karl Dean, Nashville Mayor: "We've got a lot going on and I think we could have a very successful larger convention."

IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS.. MAYOR DEAN HAS VISITED CONVENTION CENTERS IN PHILADELPHIA AND INDIANAPOLIS TO SEE WHAT THOSE CITIES HAVE DONE...

AND METRO'S HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY IS NOW STUDYING THE PREFERRED SITE BEHIND THE SOMMET CENTER... AND THE CONSTRUCTION COST... AROUND 455-MILLION DOLLARS.

Karl Dean, Nashville Mayor: "Figure out what steps we need to take, and then begin the planning process."

IT ALL COMES AS NASHVILLE'S TOURISM INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO GROW... IN 2005 VISITORS SPENT 3.5 BILLION DOLLARS IN MUSIC CITY... LAST YEAR THEY SPENT 3.8 BILLION.

Butch Spyridon: "When you account for almost 30% of the state's visitor spending in one county I'd say we're pulling our weight and the opportunity is we can probably pull a little more."

WITH HIGHER TAXES FROM HOTELS AND RENTAL CARS ALREADY BEING COLLECTED FOR A NEW CONVENTION CENTER... MANY BELIEVE THE PLAN IS COMING TOGETHER IN PERFECT HARMONY.

THE CURRENT CONVENTION CENTER IS 475 THOUSAND SQUARE FEET.

THE NEW ONE WOULD HAVE ALMOST THREE TIMES THAT..1-POINT-2-MILLION.

INDUSTRY LEADERS SAY THAT EXTRA SPACE WOULD BRING AN ADDITIONAL ONE MILLION VISITORS TO NASHVILLE EACH YEAR.