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From YouTube: Convention Center Groundbreaking LIVE DEC 4
Description
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Charlotte Convention Center Expansion - December 4, 2019
A
Thank
you
for
being
here:
I'm
Steve
Bagwell.
Vice
president
at
venues
with
the
Charlotte
regional
Visitors
Authority,
it's
my
pleasure
to
welcome
you
to
the
convention
center
for,
what's
really
a
momentous
occasion
in
February,
the
convention
center
will
celebrate
25
years
of
service
to
the
community,
having
welcomed
more
than
11
million
people
through
its
doors,
some
of
the
guests
have
been
residents
of
Charlotte
and
Mecklenburg
County
and,
of
course,
millions
more
have
been
visitors
to
the
city,
many
of
which
their
first
visit
to
Charlotte
was
when
they
walked
in
the
Convention
Center
doors.
A
In
those
25
years,
the
convention
centers
played
host
to
five
US
presidents,
served
as
a
backdrop
for
three
movies.
One
television
show
and
we've
had
boats,
cars,
helicopters
and
even
cattle
on
display
down.
There
exhibit
halls
before
we
get
going.
I
wanted
to
take
a
moment
to
recognize
the
legacy
of
all
the
folks
that
have
contributed
to
the
success
of
the
convention
center.
One
of
those
special
people
is
in
the
room
today.
I
think
I
saw
Steve
Camp
in
the
room.
Mister.
Can
you
stand
up
for
just
a
second.
A
A
The
expansion
of
the
Charlotte
convention
is
a
project.
That's
been
long
in
the
making
and
one
that
requires
significant
planning,
coordination
and
communication,
and
there
are
so
many
people
in
organizations
that
have
contributed
it
to
the
success
of
this
project.
To
this
point,
I'd
like
to
recognize
them
as
we
embark
on
this
two-year
long
construction
project
when
I
call
your
name
out
if
you
would
just
give
a
quick
wave
so
folks
in
the
room,
know
who
you
are
from
the
City
of
Charlotte
general
services
team.
A
A
A
Moving
over
to
the
design
side,
amazing
collection
of
talent
that
have
helped
design
this
project,
this
expansion
traveling
down
from
Atlanta
this
morning,
the
TBS
team,
Andy
McLean.
Thank
you
for
being
here.
Jay
Thompson,
League
ow
amazing
work
Tricia
more
on
the
interiors.
Thank
you
for
all
you've
done.
Lsp
3p
associates
another
amazing
team
with
Chris
ions
David
Loy
Paul
Kostka.
Thank
you
for
all
you're
doing
neighboring
concepts,
also
very
important
team
members
with
Darrell
Williams
and
Darrell
McNamee.
Thank
you
for
all
you've
done
on
this
project.
A
Moving
over
to
the
construction
side,
an
amazing
joint
partnership
between
three
great
firms,
holder,
Edison,
Ford
and
leaper.
These
guys
have
been
amazing
problem,
solvers
and
evitable
Eon
projects
like
this,
you
run
into
challenges
and
they've
done
an
amazing
job.
Solving
them.
Chad,
martin
ron,
lee
/,
edison,
castles,
shaun,
Haycock,
jr
maxim,
christina
burns,
mic
more
Taylor,
Bodi.
Truly
many
thanks
for
all
that.
You've
done
on
this
project
so
far
and
that
you'll
continue
to
do
from
the
Charlotte
area,
transit
system,
cats,
we're
building.
A
As
part
of
this
project,
a
pedestrian
bridge
right
next
to
the
transit
corridor
with
the
right
lip
light
rail
line
that
is
complex
and
it
requires
an
amazing
amount
of
cooperation.
The
support
from
cats.
We
sure
do
appreciate
the
effort,
so
their
leader,
John,
Lewis,
Jill,
brim,
Gary,
Lee,
Steve
Newcomb
as
well.
Thank
you
so
much
John
Musa
as
well,
has
been
really
key
on
this.
Thank
you
for
all
your
efforts.
As
we've
gotten
this
project
underway
Mecklenburg
County
code
enforcement.
These
are
the
folks
that
make
sure
we're
building
a
safe
building.
A
They
make
sure
we're
doing
it
right,
but
they've
also
been
amazing
partners.
Thank
you
so
much
pratik
ransom,
greg,
baldwin,
howard,
Grindstaff
and
jeff
vernon.
Thank
you
so
much
the
Westin
Hotel.
You
might
have
noticed
that
we
already
have
construction
barrels
in
front
of
Western
in
preparation
for
the
bridge.
That's
being
built,
they've
been
amazing
partners
led
by
leopa
COPO.
Thank
you
very
much
leo
Arts
and
Science
Council.
This
projects
going
to
have
an
amazing
art
component
to
it
principally
on
the
bridge.
They've
been
amazing
partners,
Carla
Hansel,
Todd
Stewart.
A
Thank
you
for
all
that
you've
done
and
then
last,
but
certainly
not
least,
members
of
the
CRV
a-team.
There's
too
many
to
name
in
this
proceeding,
but
I
did
want
to
highlight
some.
Some
really
key
players
docked
Ober
who's,
managing
the
affairs
of
the
CRV.
A
on
this
project
has
an
amazing
work.
Thank
you,
Doug
for
all
that
you've
done,
Bill
TripIt,
general
manager
of
the
convention
center
Phillip
Richardson
who's,
our
chief
engineer,
who
gets
the
calls
at
midnight
when
something
comes
off
the
rails.
A
Thank
you,
rich
for
all
that
you're
doing
from
the
marketing
team
Laura
white.
It's
been
an
amazing
partner
and
care
and
brand
from
the
communications
team
planned
the
proceedings
today.
Thank
you,
Karen
for
all
that.
You're
doing
so,
we
are
proud
to
ceremoniously.
Get
this
project
underway
today
and
I
say
ceremoniously
because
you
might
have
noticed.
We've
already
begun
a
lot
of
work.
We've
begun,
stealing's,
reinforcing
with
a
trust
system
in
the
exhibit
halls
and
the
structural
work
for
the
pedestrian
bridge
on
the
south
side
of
stone
wall
street
is
already
in
January.
A
All
this
is
leading
up
to
final
inspections
in
the
summer
of
2021,
and
we
anticipate
opening
later
in
the
summer
that
year,
when
our
very
first
customers
that
have
contracted
to
use
the
new
space
will
come
to
Charlotte
and
we're
going
to
be
ready
to
welcome
them.
So,
finally,
I
want
to
bring
up
our
next
speaker.
We
are
privileged
at
the
crba
to
have
a
visionary
leader
leader
who
has
championed
this
project
from
the
very
beginning.
Tom
has
also
been
an
amazing
problem.
Solver
I,
don't
think
we've
gotten
this
done
without
his
great
support.
A
B
When
we
do
things
like
this,
the
one
thing
that
is
in
common
with
our
achievements
or
that
we
do
these
things
together
with
lots
of
people,
not
just
the
ones
that
we
work
with
every
day,
but
the
city
and
all
the
partners
that
that
Steve,
acknowledge
and
I
also
want
to
thank
my
team
at
the
crba
for
their
work.
But
most
of
all,
I
want
to
thank
the
mayor
for
her
unwavering
support
for
the
hospitality
industry
and
the
hospitality
industry
is
trying
to
do
big
things.
B
She's
always
been
there
and
supportive
and-
and
we're
really
grateful
she
understands,
unlike
anyone
else,
that
at
the
power
of
the
hospitality
industry
and
the
one
in
nine
jobs
in
our
community
that
it
supports
and
how
important
our
success
is.
I
also
want
to
thank
the
City
Council,
who
also
understands
that
and
gave
us
a
ten
to
one
vote
in
support
of
this
funding,
and
we
couldn't
have
done
without
them.
So
I
wouldn't,
but
a
really
appreciate
if
you
would
stand
up
so
we
could.
Thank
you.
B
So
I
also
am
supported
by
an
incredible
board
of
directors
and
I
want
to
thank
the
board
for
sweating
it
out
with
our
team
as
well,
and
helping
us
to
try
to
find
solutions
and
and
being
there,
when
we
were
at
council
meetings
and
and
making
sure
that
we
were
doing
the
right
thing
through
the
process
and
so
to
my
board,
which
the
board
members
that
are
here.
Would
you
mind
please
standing
up
as
well.
B
The
hotel
your's
in
this
community
have
been
our
partners
in
this,
and
they've
been
strong
advocates
for
it
and
and
for
all
the
success
we've
had
as
a
visitor
economy.
Last
year,
our
County
celebrated
seven
point
four
billion
dollars
an
economic
impact
from
the
visitors
that
come
to
our
city
and
it's
an
incredible
teamwork
that
makes
that
happen.
B
The
visitor
authority
acts
as
an
advocate
and
runs
some
of
the
facilities,
but
much
of
the
work
happens
in
our
restaurants
and
our
hotels,
our
bars
and
our
entertainment
facilities,
and
we're
really
grateful
there
for
their
support
being
out
for
construction
or
being
slowed
during
the
construction
period,
as
it
has
an
impact
on
their
on
their
teams
and
on
their
performance
as
well,
and
we're
incredibly
grateful
for
their
partnership
and
and
working
through
this
construction
period.
We
did
this
expansion
because
we've
been
really
thoughtful
about
listening
to
our
customers.
B
We've
been
doing
great
research
to
make
sure
that
we
understand
what
will
make
us
competitive
in
this
very
competitive
convention
environment.
We
also
are
keenly
aware
of
what
our
customers
changing
needs
are
and
how
they've
evolved.
Since
this
convention
center
was
booked.
Twenty
five
years
ago,
and
as
I
say,
it's
an
incredibly
competitive
landscape
and
infrastructure
is
being
built
all
over
the
country,
particularly
in
the
cities
that
we
compete
with
the
most
like
Austin
and
Nashville
and
and
other
cities
that
have
been
making
investments
in
this
kind
of
infrastructure.
B
So
we
we
committed
to
doing
great
research
to
make
sure
this
decision
was
based
on
sound
reasoning
and
sound
evidence,
and
we're
really
pleased
that
that
we
think
we're
building
something
that
is
going
to
allow
us
to
continue
to
compete
into
the
next
25
years
of
the
Convention.
Center.
I
would
also
say
that
we
are
keeping
and
keeping
Charlotte
competitive.
It
aligns
with
our
vision
for
our
organization.
We
aspire
to
be
one
of
the
Smoak's
most
sought
after
cities
and
destinations
in
the
southeast.
B
B
The
expansions
already
making
a
big
difference.
Several
groups
that
couldn't
have
booked
in
our
facility
have
now
committed
to
holding
their
large
conventions
and
our
facility.
We
have
a
greater
volume
of
booking
and
booking
pace
than
we
have
ever
had
for
our
convention
center.
So
all
that
research
that
we
did
is
paid
off
and
show
that
this
additional
facility
was
really
needed.
B
Now
all
we
have
to
do
is
build
it
on
time
for
their
arrival
and
we
have
a
great
team
to
make
sure
that
that
happens
and
the
quality
of
our
events
is
getting
bigger
and
more
and
more
folks
want
to
come
to
show
it
because
of
the
success
that
Sharla
is
is
is
benefiting
from.
So
this
is
all
great
news
for
Charlotte
and
and
as
I
said
before,
there's
been
no
bigger
supporter
of
the
tourism
industry
and
the
work
that
we're
doing
at
the
crba
than
our
mayor
of
our
city
and
I
welcome.
C
C
Here's
one
over
here
at
Driggs,
Larkin,
Eggleston
and
tart
Bukhari,
I,
hope,
I,
haven't
missed
anyone
else,
but
I
want
you
to
know
that
the
City
Council
may
have
a
lot
of
debates
and
sometimes
a
few
disagreements,
but
on
the
one
thing
that
we
do
agree
upon
is
the
hospitality
industry
is
so
important
to
our
economy.
It
gives
people
opportunities
that
they
wouldn't
have
had
without
having
this
entry
level
place
to
grow
and
be
so.
Thank
you
all
for
supporting
this
I
want
to
thank
the
board
members.
C
You
know
I
served
on
the
crv
a
board
for
a
while,
and
it's
not
always
the
cheerful
action
that
you
think
about,
because
these
folks
have
to
really
work
to
attract
and
have
a
strategic
plan
that
works
for
this
entire
city
and
actually
for
this
entire
state.
Because
what
they
produce
and
people
coming
here,
they
often
say
you're
in
Charlotte,
but
the
trip
afterwards
can
be
to
the
beach
or
to
the
mountains
and
as
well
across
our
region,
and
so
this
is
really
an
important
day
for
us.
C
I
also
want
to
say
that
there's
some
things
that
the
city
is
committed
to
and
they're
people
in
this
audience
that
I
want
to
say
thanks
to
Steve,
Camp,
Ron
and
Kimball
without
them.
Who
knows
where
we
would
be
today
in
our
hospitality
industry
and
our
services
to
provide
entertainment
and
opportunities
again
to
our
residents.
I
also
want
to
thank
Ron
leaper
now
I
know
he
doesn't
expect
us
very
much,
but
you
know
when
I
ran
for
office,
the
first
time
Ron
and
I
went
out
and
asked
people.
C
Would
you
hire
people
that
hadn't
gotten
a
chance
to
have
an
entry-level
job
and
we
talked
to
people
about
coming
into
the
construction
industry,
one
of
the
time
with
a
mentor
and
at
the
time
I
remember
doing
this.
It
was
$11
an
hour.
We
thought
if
we
could
get
those
folks
at
$11
an
hour.
We
would
have
been
successful.
Some
of
those
people
that
came
in
at
11
are
now
making
25
an
hour,
but
Ryan's
gonna
be
on
this
project
and
he's
going
to
do
the
same
thing.
C
C
So
this
is
a
big
step
for
us.
It's
gonna
be
a
little
bit
more
disruption.
Downtown
I've
started
actually
reading
the
closed
Street
memos
that
they
send
us,
because
one
day
I
was
coming
down
on
Stonewall
and
I
was
like.
Oh,
my
god,
I'm,
never
gonna
get
out
of
this
traffic
right
now.
It
was
a
big
hole
in
the
street,
but
there
are
people
digging
it
with
walls
appropriately.
C
No
OSHA
complaints
for
us
I'm
really
looking
forward
to
beginning,
because
when
you
have
a
new
beginning,
you
have
an
end
and
when
we
have
that
end,
we
know
that
we're
going
to
continue
to
be
the
best
destination
for
large
conferences
and
events
in
our
state.
We
are
the
reputation
of
a
city
that
believes
that
we
can
do
everything
we
can
actually
be
the
best
city
in
this
country
if
we
plan
and
work
well
together.
C
So
you
know
every
one
of
you
that
standing
here
probably
has
something
to
do
a
touch
point
in
this
project
and
I
want
to
say
that
this
isn't
about
the
city.
It's
about
what
you
do
to
make
that
touchpoint
work.
So
all
of
us
can
look
forward
to
a
great
completion
as
we
begin
this
year
and
I
don't
want
to
say
how
long
it's
been,
but
I
think
I
actually
work
with
a
few
people
on
the
beginning
of
this
Convention
Center
25
years
ago.
C
But
you
know
those
25
years
have
treated
us
all
so
well,
as
you
know,
we
knew
that
we
could
have
this
Convention
Center
in
our
Center
City
and
we
knew
that
it
would
grow.
I.
Remember
that
you
know
plans
for
the
train
to
come
through
and
how
important
that
was,
and
people
just
didn't
think
we
could
do
it.
C
I
do
remember
the
times
that
the
floor
shook,
because
the
Mary
Kay,
ladies,
were
doing
the
bunnyhop
all
at
one
time,
but
all
those
were
small
things
that
really
exhibited
our
success,
and
so
what
I
want
you
to
know
is
that
25
years
ago
we
started
something
and
we're
still
on
that
path
of
success.
We've
seen
the
impact
we've
hit
high
numbers
for
the
last
several
years:
707
million
hotel
room,
States
annually,
hotel
revenue
of
800
million
dollars
over
63
million
in
our
occupancy
tax
revenues
and
with
this
expansion.
Who
knows
where
that
can
go?
C
C
All
of
this
is
going
to
be
so
that
we
can
have
more
meetings,
more
trade,
Stroh's,
more
sporting
events
and
gatherings
of
all
kinds,
including
the
Republican,
National
Convention,
so
I'm
excited
to
be
here
today,
but,
more
importantly,
I'm
really
glad
to
be
able
to
say
thank
you
to
each
and
every
one
of
you
that
made
this
possible
we're
going
places
guys
we're
going
someplace
because
we
are
going
to
be
the
best
city
in
this
country
and
you're
all
gonna
make
that
difference
happen.
Thank
you.
So
much.
B
Well,
this
isn't
a
traditional
groundbreaking
since
we
are
not
actually
digging
we're
building
the
new
building
on
top
of
our
existing
building.
In
order
to
do
that,
we
have
to
destroy
some
stuff
and
the
team.
That's
working
in
this
building
knows
what
that
sounds
like,
while
you're
trying
to
work,
but
we
are
going
to
begin
our
groundbreaking
by
by
breaking
by
breaking
something
instead
of
digging
something
so
Mara.
You
would
join
me
over
here
at
the
cement
block
and
we'll
see
if
we
can
break
some
that.