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Regional destination marketing organization Visit Tri-Valley unveiled its commitment Wednesday to develop a new multi-use event center from the ground up in Pleasanton, Livermore or Dublin during the coming years.
Citing the economic and reputational possibilities for the entire region, Visit Tri-Valley officials said the indoor venue would be “a premier destination for large-scale dynamic events” catering particularly to sports tournaments, entertainment shows and corporate meetings or conferences — a state-of-the-art amenity they say the area has been aching for.
“It will drive more business, visitor spending and it will be an incredible venue for the benefit of all of us,” President CEO Tracy Farhad said in a video statement this week. “In fact, this event center is going to showcase what the Tri-Valley has become increasingly famous for: being at the heart of innovation.”
“We are committed to bringing this project to life, holding hands and working together with our industry partners. So help me in welcoming the world to our doorstep,” Farhad added.
Visit Tri-Valley announced the news and released conceptual renderings during its “Cirque Tri-Vallé” annual showcase at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore on Wednesday afternoon, with press materials also shared with local media.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled about the multi-use event center right here in the Tri-Valley,” Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert said in the press release. “I believe it’s just what the Tri-Valley needs to generate civic pride, create more jobs and increase visitor spending. It will help to put the Tri-Valley on the map as a world-class sporting, entertainment, and meetings destination.”
A regional need identified in Visit Tri-Valley’s 2023 Strategic Plan, especially around potential sports tourism, the event center project is in its early stages. A specific location has not been finalized, but the organization has narrowed the possibilities down to several undisclosed spots in Pleasanton, Livermore or Dublin.
“These locations offer optimal accessibility and proximity to amenities like restaurants, hotels, and transportation options,” officials said. “The next phase of development will focus on on-site evaluation, securing funding, gaining community support, and finalizing the venue’s design and operational model to begin development within the next three years.”
The concept calls for a versatile venue with a minimum of 100,000 square feet of flexible space that could host sports competitions from regional to international in volleyball, basketball, fencing, gymnastics and the like, according to Visit Tri-Valley.
But the uses would go beyond that, catering to entertainment arts, cultural and corporate events as well with advanced audiovisual technology, ideal acoustics and adjustable space for meeting rooms or breakouts for tradeshows, conferences, banquets and company retreats.
“The center will be built with considerations of the CEQA review process and is expected to generate significant economic impact,” officials said. “Preliminary projections suggest the venue will host more than 185 annual event days, attract approximately 130,950 attendees, and generate an additional 24,000 room nights per year.”
The tourism industry is already a significant part of the Tri-Valley economy, bringing in $631 million in direct travel-related spending last year and accounting for nearly 4,500 jobs in hospitality, according to the organization.
Visit Tri-Valley, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, is the tourism business improvement district for the cities of Pleasanton, Livermore and Dublin and the town of Danville, funded primarily by an assessment on hotel nightly stays in those communities. San Ramon pulled out in 2015, opting to form its own city-specific entity.
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This is an exciting idea that has been tossed about for at least 30 years. The Alameda County Fairgrounds comes to my mind because of easy freeway access and existing parking. This project has significant fiscal issues that needs to be carefully reviewed and planned.