Events are back … so let’s check out our city’s primary gathering spot for large conferences and events: the San Diego Convention Center! At 2.6 million square feet and situated along the waterfront downtown, it’s the region’s premier gathering place, hosting conventions, trade shows, and community events that economically benefit the City of San Diego and advance our convention and tourism industry. It opened for business in 1989, after two and a half years of construction, and because the demand to book an event was so high, it was nearly doubled in size through a Phase II expansion in 2001. In 2019, the venue contributed $1.3 billion to the region and generated nearly $29 million in hotel and sales taxes for the city. And, although the pre-pandemic forecast for 2021 was projected to be $1.58 billion in regional economic impact, during COVID-19 – which caused over 100 events to be canceled, rescheduled, or become virtual – the Convention Center was able to serve as a temporary ...