Ellington

Twenty thousand visitors filled the Jackson Convention Complex during its official grand opening Saturday, according to preliminary estimates.

The convention center officially opened last week, with business and political leaders joining in a Jan. 14 celebration. A public grand opening celebration followed Jan. 17.

"I've been to convention centers all over the country and, this is a 10," Downtown Jackson Partners President Ben Allen said.

"This is really exciting."

The center's opening is the culmination of a five-year process that required the Mississippi Legislature to allow a 2004 referendum on increasing hotel and restaurant taxes to finance the project. The Legislature approved the referendum, and Jackson voters passed the referendum.

In attendance on Saturday was Rep. Jim Ellington, R-Raymond, who was the last representative from Hinds County to approve the referendum.

"I'm glad I did that," Ellington said of his vote in favor of allowing the referendum. "It's absolutely gorgeous. I look forward to them being able to fill it up and utilize it."

Jackson restaurateur Jeff Good saw the center's opening as a symbol of Jackson's potential.

"I really think it's a physical manifestation of the will of this community," Good said. "We can do anything when we pull together. But to pull together it's got to be something excellent, and that's something excellent."

Convention Complex officials have reported $2 million in advance bookings over the next two years.

Previous Comments

ID

143332

Comment

All I ask is for the CC to have one good sci-fi convention here. I hate having to travel to Dallas or the ATL for that.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2009-02-05T18:33:22-06:00