Sioux Falls Pursues New Convention Center

Experience Sioux Falls and Forward Sioux Falls are seeking public input on building a new convention center to replace the 1996 facility.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Wide photograph of a modern low convention hall with a plain glass and stone facade on open flat prairie under a pale winter sky. — Sioux Falls officials and Experience Sioux Falls are seeking public input on a new convention center to replace the 1996 facility, after losing an estimated 325 events in 2024 and 2025. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should Sioux Falls build a new convention center to attract more visitors and business?

The city believes the Sioux Falls Convention Center has outgrown its space, and Experience Sioux Falls and Forward Sioux Falls are leading an effort to build a replacement. A Riverline District site was put on pause last year, and a public open house was held Thursday night to restart the conversation.

Why it matters

Sioux Falls is losing conventions and meetings because it lacks sufficient space and dates, with 325 events that could be counted lost in 2024 and 2025. A new facility would bring additional sales tax, jobs and business to the community.

Visitors to Sioux Falls generated over $400 million in economic benefit in 2025, while 325 countable events were lost in 2024 and 2025. The total cost of a new facility and its financing have not been announced.

The players

Experience Sioux Falls

A joint effort with Forward Sioux Falls between the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, leading the push for a new convention center.

Forward Sioux Falls

A joint effort with Experience Sioux Falls between the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, supporting the convention center planning.

The details

An open house was held Thursday night at the Sioux Falls Convention Center to restart discussion, and a second session is set for December 2 at the downtown library. The effort is seeking public input at every step, and the open houses will not include renderings or a list of top location choices.

2024: 325 countable events lost in the year, counted with 2025.
2025: Visitor economic benefit reached over $400 million; the Riverline District plan was put on pause.
Thursday, November 12, 2026: Open house at the Sioux Falls Convention Center, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
December 2, 2026: Second open house at the downtown Sioux Falls library, 6:00-7:00 p.m.

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Roadmap

Sioux Falls' 325 lost events in 2024 and 2025 document a capacity gap that a replacement for the 1996 convention center is meant to close. The city's planning follows the Riverline District proposal, which was paused last year, and now weighs the Sanford district at the Smithfield site as a possible alternative.

A new convention center would bring more hotel stays, restaurant visits and event attendance to downtown Sioux Falls, including roughly 1,400 people on a Tuesday. Residents can attend the open houses to share input before any location or design is chosen.

The takeaway

Public input at each stage will shape whether Sioux Falls can recover conventions it has been losing for lack of space and dates. Attending the upcoming open house is the most direct way for residents to weigh in on the project.

What happens next

A second open house will be held December 2, 2026, at the downtown Sioux Falls library from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. to continue public input on the convention center.