Yakima Convention Center Losing Business Expansion Planned

Yakima is losing business because large conventions are outgrowing the area It's one of the main reasons why the General Manager of the Yakima Convention Center Connie Upton says they're hoping to expand the convention center in the near future. "We have lost a number of conventions because we can't house them. They've outgrown us." Upton says not only are they seeing cancellations of large conventions but they're missing out on a lot of business that never considers Yakima because of the limited size of the center.
A market study in 2015 recommends an additional 51, 000 square foot exhibit hall with break out facilities. And the study also suggested the building of a new hotel to replace The Red Lion next to the convention center. Upton says they're in the process of hiring an architect to draw up plans. Upton says it's too early to determine the cost of the project.