A new 210,000-square-foot convention center in New Caney is on track to open in December, adding a major meetings and events venue to the master-planned community of Valley Ranch. The facility is being delivered as part of the next phase of The Signorelli Co.’s broader Valley Ranch development program.
According to reporting from the Houston Business Journal, this phase of Valley Ranch is focused on expanding the community’s offerings in retail, commerce and entertainment across the 1,400-acre master-planned project. The convention center is intended to complement that mix by providing large-format meeting, exhibition and event space within the master plan.
The East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID) is in charge of the convention center project. Design responsibilities were handled by HHCP Architects, which planned the full program of indoor and outdoor event areas. EMCID has retained Oak View Group to manage and operate the new convention center once it opens.
The venue will include a 55,000-square-foot ballroom and exhibit hall that can accommodate large gatherings, trade shows and banquets. In addition, the building will provide nearly 20,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space to support breakouts, smaller conferences and corporate functions. Guests will enter through approximately 25,000 square feet of pre-function and lobby space designed to support registration, networking and event circulation.
Outdoor activation is incorporated through about 11,000 square feet of courtyard space adjacent to the convention center. These outdoor areas are expected to provide additional flexibility for receptions, social events and informal gatherings that complement the indoor program.
EMCID projects that the convention center will generate nearly $1.73 billion in new spending over a 30-year period. The district also estimates that the facility will contribute approximately $35.1 million in sales, hotel and venue tax revenues during that time horizon. In terms of employment, EMCID forecasts the creation of 500 direct and indirect jobs associated with the convention center’s development and ongoing operations.
The project team is still working to secure a hotel partner for the site. EMCID has identified a property that has been set aside for a hotel operator, with plans for that future hotel to connect directly to the convention center. The hotel component has not yet been finalized, but is envisioned as an integrated part of the overall convention offering within Valley Ranch.
As the opening date approaches, the convention center is positioned as a key amenity within the evolving Valley Ranch master plan, aligning with the community’s emphasis on retail, commercial activity and entertainment-driven uses.
