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Consultants for the South Padre Island Convention Center presented potential expansion plans at the Cameron County Commissioner’s Court on June 30.
These three new plans come after the county voted down a previous proposal in June 2025 due to community concerns on the expansion’s effects on nearby native plants and migratory birds.
Efforts to expand the center have been in the works for over 15 years, according to the city of South Padre Island’s website. Since then, the city has held workshops, conducted surveys and input meetings for alternative designs.
“One of the items that we’ve made clear with our conversations leading up to this point with South Padre was the protection of all existing plant and natural tree growth,” said Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. “I think that’s been included in the designs.”
Rendering of South Padre Island’s plans to expand its convention center. (Courtesy Rendering)
Since the Island leases the building from the county, any expansion needs to be approved in court, explained a representative for Broaddus and Associates, who was seeking approval for the two larger plans.
“There are a lot of conferences that would love to come down,” he said, noting current capacity constraints.
An expansion would allow for more visitors, more county revenue and more jobs, he continued, with the Island bringing in $1.91 million in lodging tax revenue last fiscal year.
There is visitor demand with the Cameron County Amphitheater, SpaceX visitation, Andy Bowie Park and other overnight stay activity, he said.
“Those wetlands and the old growth habitat concerns have previously been addressed and so there will be minimal environmental impact to this,” he said, adding that this would also preserve ecotourism in the area.
The three expansion plans create a new exhibit hall, new lobby, more breakout rooms, and the expansion of previous spaces. Doubling the size of the grand area would allow for more conference space and room for sports tournaments, the presenter said.
South Padre Island has $17 million from convention center revenue funds as well as $26 million from the city and hotel occupancy taxes.
This would fund close to half of the expansion, he continued, and the city would fund the rest.
“This is not an agreement,” said Treviño, adding that the court’s action allows them to move forward with whatever changes need to be made before an expansion agreement is made.
The presenter also said that with the new causeway plans, additional parking will be needed in the future.
The city has been conducting a parking analysis and long-term public parking strategy study.
This could result in more hotels and additional parking “with possible connections over South Padre Island Boulevard in order to be able to use that side and then cross over safely to the convention center side,” he said.