By any measure, the growth in the number of facilities and square feet of
exhibition space since the 1970s is nothing short of spectacular. In light of the
potential benefits for cities, it is not hard to explain all this activity. However,
cities differ significantly from one another. For some, it may be wise to limit
their participation in the convention wars to well-designed, smaller facilities
targeted at smaller meetings and exhibitions. In fact, however, the evaluation
about what is appropriate and realistic for a particular city is rarely, if ever,
conducted by local participants. Instead, the professionals in the industry supply
the data, do the studies, and often help manage the public relations effort.
The result is that the size and the cost of meetings facilities are not correlatedclosely with the size, geographic location, and economic condition of the cities
that build them. A brief history of convention center politics in St. Louis reveals
that this occurs because specialists within the industry exert an
overwhelming influence over the decisions that cities make about convention
centers.