The Greater Boise Auditorium District is moving forward with plans to expand the Boise Centre, acquiring two parcels along River Street in downtown Boise and commissioning a study of options that could nearly double the venue’s current footprint. The project aims to address a documented shortfall in event capacity and position the Treasure Valley as a stronger destination for conventions and sports tourism.
Land Purchased, Expansion Plans Taking Shape
The district has secured two properties in the vicinity of 10th and River streets. The first, a four-acre lot near the western corner of that intersection, was acquired in early April 2026. A second parcel of 1.8 acres, located just east of 10th Street on the opposite side of the road, was purchased at the end of April. Together, the two lots are intended to anchor a secondary campus for the convention center rather than an expansion of its existing downtown structure.
Greater Boise Auditorium District Board Chair Kristin Muchow described the land acquisition as a long-term investment in the region’s economic foundation. “We’re focused on building a solid foundation for both the district and greater downtown Boise that will withstand needs well into the future,” Muchow said in a public statement. “This allows us to move forward and evaluate the best use of the land to serve our community and deliver economic impact to benefit the city.”
Three Options on the Table
At a May 26 board meeting held at the Boise Centre, consulting firm Johnson Consulting outlined findings from an ongoing assessment and presented three possible development scenarios for the new parcels.
A 2025 analysis by the firm found the Boise Centre loses roughly 115 events each year because it lacks sufficient space to accommodate demand. At 86,000 square feet of event space, the venue is constrained in how many functions it can host simultaneously. Consultants have recommended approximately doubling that capacity.
The first option calls for a ground-level exhibit hall of 60,000 square feet paired with a 40,000-square-foot hall on a second level. The second option is a single 50,000-square-foot exhibit hall. Project Manager John Fleming acknowledged both of those scenarios would deliver meaningful growth while noting they may fall short of the full market opportunity the Boise area represents.
“It’s just, less than maybe what we see as the market opportunity,” Fleming said of the mid-range options.
The third and most ambitious option is a two-phase development. Phase one would construct a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall. Phase two would add 40,000 square feet of ballroom space and 20,000 square feet of dedicated meeting rooms — creating a substantially larger secondary campus.
Sports Tourism as an Economic Driver
Among the considerations shaping the board’s deliberations is the economic potential of sports tourism. Fleming told board members that large exhibit halls frequently attract high-volume sporting events, and that a new satellite facility built around exhibit space could be designed with that use in mind.
Sporting events generate hotel bookings and bring entire families into the local economy — a dynamic the consulting team highlighted as particularly valuable. Fleming noted that family spending related to youth athletics tends to be resilient even during tighter economic periods. “That’s one of the last places that belts get tightened — is spending on kids,” he said.
Principal Project Manager Ryan Johnson emphasized the broader regional benefit such an investment could yield. “You’re really building the sports tourism marketplace at a pretty substantial level,” Johnson said, adding that surrounding Treasure Valley communities — including Meridian, Eagle, and beyond — would have time to align their own planning with what the district builds. Meridian, for example, is already seeing significant development momentum with projects like The District at Ten Mile, a large mixed-use development on the city’s southwest side.
What Comes Next
No construction timeline has been established. The next step in the process is issuing a request for proposals to contract a design team, which will move the project from concept into detailed planning. The board has not yet selected among the three options presented by Johnson Consulting.
The expansion discussion is part of a broader wave of development ambitions shaping downtown Boise. Boise State University’s own 10-year facilities plan also envisions significant upgrades in and around the city core, including Greenbelt improvements and new academic infrastructure.
Residents and business owners interested in the Boise Centre expansion can monitor updates through the Greater Boise Auditorium District, which holds public board meetings and posts agendas and materials related to the project.