Hickory and Conover celebrated the addition of 46,000 square feet at the Hickory Metro Convention Center on Monday. The convention center opened in 1997 and has gone through four renovations and expansions. "There is now more than 132,000 square feet available for use on one level to welcome any and every event you can think of, and this convention center will bring lots of new opportunities to bring more visitors to our community," Hickory-Conover Tourism Development Authority Chairman Bruce Eckard said in a press release from the convention center.
A new exhibition hall holds 35,000 square feet. The multipurpose facility will be used for meetings, trade fairs and serve as an athletic complex. The exhibition hall has room for eight volleyball courts, four basketball courts, 12 pickleball courts and other sporting events and competitions, according to the city of Hickory annual report.
Sports can find a home in the exhibition hall because the ceiling is 30 feet from the floor. "The newly expanded facilities will play a pivotal role in making our area a premier destination for sports tourism," Hickory Mayor Hank Guess said. "By hosting regional and national tournaments, we will not only bring athletes and their families, but also seek this influence of sports enthusiasts, stimulating our economy and encouraging further investment in our community.
" The groundbreaking for the additional space and renovations was held May 1, 2023. After about a year-and-a-half, work has been completed. The convention center hosted its first conference in the newly renovated space in August.
The project to expand and renovate the center cost around $18 million and will be paid for through occupancy taxes collected from Hickory and Conover hotels and event venues. "There is so much positive momentum that has brought us to this day," Mandy Pitts Hildebrand, CEO of the Hickory Metro Convention Center and Visitors Bureau, said in a press release. "It's because of collaboration and collective wisdom of looking to what the next 5 to 25 years looks like in the meeting and event industry, as well as sports tourism, that we believe will make this renovation and expansion a success.
" Basketball tournament held Friday The convention center held the second annual Hmong Basketball Tournament on Friday. The tournament coincides with the Hmong New Year festival. The festival begins Nov.
28 and continues through Dec. 1 at 3500 Rocky Ford Road in Newton. Teams played in a five-on-five tournament Nov.
29 at the convention center. The winning and second-place team received a monetary prize and a trophy. A three-on-three youth tournament was also part of the event.
The tournament was hosted by Team Dynasty, Inc., a local organization that works to promote and empower athletes, according to the organization's website. For more information about the tournament, visit teamdynastyinc.
com . To learn more about Hmong New Year, visit hmongsoutheastpuavpheej.org .
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