The city of Fort Worth is buzzing with industry news as of late, from staffing shifts to renovation project updates. Regarding the latter, the Fort Worth Convention Center is undergoing a major transformation, and Phase 1 of the project debuted in December. This portion of the project included a new grand entryway for the center’s southeast entrance, four new loading docks, several food and beverage outlets, and the realignment of Commerce Street to accommodate a site pad for a future convention hotel.
In early February, the center announced its official plans for Phase 2 of the renovation, which will feature a new convention building to replace the center’s arena, as well as modernize existing exhibit space. The arena is slated for demolition in early 2027, with the last event planned for the venue to take place this September. Phase 2 is expected to be complete in 2030, and the entire convention center will remain open during construction operations.
“The Phase 2 expansion positions Fort Worth to not only attract more conventions and meetings, but also to deepen engagement with downtown businesses and residents,” says Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker in a prepared statement. “As a key part of the transformation of the southeast quadrant of downtown, the new center will anchor a hub of economic growth and higher-education partnerships, and its beautiful design will showcase the ‘Modern West’ brand that has helped make Fort Worth a standout destination among our peer cities.”
In addition to the renovations, the Fort Worth Convention Center welcomed Jordan Steffan as operations manager in late January. She previously served as director of sales at Fort Worth’s Will Rogers Memorial Center through the City of Fort Worth Public Events Department (which also manages the convention center), and she will remain within the department for her new role.
To fill Steffan’s previous position, Shanda Cartwright joined the Will Rogers Memorial Center at the end of January as interim director of sales to supervise the center’s team of sales managers, event coordinators, and an office assistant. Cartwright will assist the center’s clients as the venue makes the transition to the private sector.
The City of Fort Worth Public Events Department also welcomed a new leader in early February—Cynthia Sanchez Serrano is now its director and will help lead the Fort Worth Convention Center’s Phase 2 renovations. Sanchez Serrano succeeds Mike Crum in the role, who steered the center’s Phase 1 updates.
Over at the city’s tourism bureau, Visit Fort Worth, president and CEO Bob Jameson announced his retirement after 13 years in the leadership role. His exit will be effective at the end of April. “On behalf of the Visit Fort Worth board of directors, we are extremely grateful to Bob for the contributions he has made and the legacy he leaves the city,” says Susan Alanis, chairperson of the Visit Fort Worth board of directors, in a prepared statement. “His wisdom, vision, and philosophies will continue to inspire countless numbers of colleagues in the travel and tourism industry and in Fort Worth.”
