Dallas Expanding Walkable Spaces Across Multiple Neighborhoods

New funding creates robust entertainment district across Downtown and nearby areas

Pack your walking shoes because Dallas is making it easier for business travelers to experience more of the city.

An overwhelming 68 percent of Dallas voters approved funding a new 2.5-million-square-foot convention center that will anchor an expansive entertainment district located between Downtown and the Cedars District, a popular South Dallas neighborhood. Together, the exciting developments will connect more than 15,000 hotel rooms to even more exciting restaurants and venues.

The new entertainment district will add retail, dining, and lodging options for visitors and locals alike, while the new convention center will nearly double attendance capacity, expand exhibit space, and add ballrooms and terraces with scenic views of the Trinity River.

“Customers have been telling us for years it’s not cutting it,” said Craig Davis, president and CEO of Visit Dallas. “This new convention center will make a seismic shift for us and what our future is going to be.”

These improvements reflect the growing “bleisure” movement, where the line between business and relaxation often overlap. More travelers are willing to extend stays, even if for a night only. According to a GTBA study, 82 percent of bleisure travelers stay in the same hotel for the entire trip, meaning proximity to attractions is a key consideration.

Business travelers will have even more tasty dining, shopping, and culture choices in an area already teeming with options. Downtown, walkers can explore the sights at the AT&T Discovery District, a 9,000-square-foot futuristic space full of colorful displays, shop the flagship Neiman Marcus store, or literally walk-through Dallas history in the West End. And when the new district opens, travelers can watch live music if that’s more your jam, or grab a bite or drink (or both) from some of the most renowned bars in Dallas’ fun and funky south side.

Planning is already underway, with completion set for 2029.