Paid by overnight visitors
A tourism (lodging) tax applied to guests staying in hotels, motels, and short-term rentals in Springfield.
Convention & Events Center Tourism Tax
This page provides information regarding the upcoming tourism (lodging) tax ballot item and summarizes the ballot question and related background information.
What is on the Ballot?
On the April 7, 2026 ballot, Springfield voters will consider a 3% tourism (lodging) tax
increase. If approved, the additional revenue would be used for the purpose of attracting travel and tourism, including the construction, operation, and maintenance of a regional convention and events center at the current Expo Center site (635 E.
St. Louis St.).
Ballot language
Shall the City of Springfield, Missouri, impose an additional three percent (3%) license tax on the business of renting, leasing, or letting living quarters, sleeping accommodations, rooms, or a part thereof, in connection with any hotel, motel, tourist court, or short-term rental, derived from or paid by transient guests for sleeping accommodations, for the purpose of attracting travel and tourism, including the construction, operation, and maintenance of a regional convention and events center? The additional three percent (3%) license tax shall automatically expire after a period of thirty-five (35) years.
View full ballot language
This tourism (lodging) tax would be used to attract travel and tourism, including support to renovate, expand and convert the existing City-owned Expo Center on St. Louis Street into a convention and events center (City of Springfield, Convention & Events Center Tourism Tax Flyer, 2026)
The Highlights
Play the video to learn more about the ballot as well as the proposed convention and events center.
Convention & Events Center
The tax would be used to fund the construction, operation, and maintenance of a regional convention and events center.
35-year sunset
The tax includes a 35-year sunset and would expire automatically.
Designated funding
The project would look to be funded through tourism tax revenues, potential state matching funds, and a portion of the Spring Forward SGF sales tax.
Downtown Expo Center site
The proposal is to renovate and expand the current Expo Center site in downtown Springfield, MO.
A tax paid primarily by Visitors
The 3% tourism (lodging) tax on lodging accommodations - such as hotels, motels, tourist courts, and short-term rental - would apply to transient guests (those staying fewer than 30 consecutive days). Only when locals stay at qualifying lodging would they pay into the tax. (The City of Springfield, Convention and Events Center Tourism Tax, 2026)
What are the Projected Impacts to Springfield?
The tourism (lodging) tax is paid by transient guests and is intended to fund tourism related activities described in the ballot language. The Hunden Partners Market Demand, Financial Feasibility & Impact Study (2025) includes projections about potential visitor activity and economic impacts associated with an expanded convention and events center. Projections depend on assumptions and are not guarantees.
Projected Economic Activity
Projected to generate $1.3 billion in new visitor spending and $68.7 million in tax revenue over the next 30 years. (Hunden Partners Study, 2025)
Potential Destination Positioning
Investing in tourism infrastructure, like a convention and events center, could help position Springfield as a competitive destination for travel. (Hunden Partners Study, 2025)
How Visitor Spending May Affect Local Business
Increased visitor traffic can mean more spending at restaurants, shops, hotels, and attractions, and could help create jobs.
The Convention & Events Center Proposal
Hunden Partners conducted a Market Demand, Financial Feasibility & Impact Study (2025) to assess Springfield’s convention and event space needs. Research found the current Expo Center is limited in its ability to compete for larger events. The City is proposing to renovate and expand the existing City-owned Expo Center into a modern convention and events center to support tourism and economic growth.
Who is Hunden Partners?
Hunden Partners is a consulting firm that helps communities evaluate tourism and destination projects (like convention centers and hotels) through market research, financial feasibility, and economic impact analysis.
For Springfield, Hunden Partners prepared the Market Demand, Financial Feasibility & Impact Study, which evaluated the potential to renovate and expand the current Expo Center into a modern convention and events center.
Why is the Expo Center not a Convention & Events Center?
The City-owned Expo Center at 635 E. St. Louis St. is not a convention center and is not operated or marketed as such. The Expo Center features a 45,000-square-foot exhibit hall and the former Sears building. The exhibit hall is functional but outdated, and the Sears portion cannot be used for events due to dense columns and structural limitations.
Due to its limited facility size and lack of essential infrastructure and flexibility, the facility is not suited to host certain types of larger events. (City of Springfield, Convention and Events Center Tax, Questions and Answers, 2026)
What’s the history of the Springfield Expo Center?
Key Facility Facts:
- Owner: City of Springfield
- Operator: Atrium Hospitality
- Opened: 2002
- Original cost: $19.3 million
- Bond payoff: Projected by 2027
The Springfield Exposition Center (Expo Center) is located across St. Louis Street from the 267-key University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center. The facility hosts exhibitions, trade shows, and a variety of local events, attracted through joint efforts by the facility’s management and Visit Springfield.
The Expo Center project was completed at a cost of $19.3 million and financed through a bond issuance in 2002, which is set to be paid off by 2027. The facility includes approximately 112,000 square feet of total convention space, along with concession areas, restrooms, and storage.
The Expo Center is also attached to a renovated Sears department store that was converted into function space on two levels (Hall 1 and Hall 2), totaling about 46,000 square feet. These spaces are largely unused and unmarketable for meetings and events due to structural columns and low ceiling heights.
Source: The City of Springfield, Questions and Answers (2026)
Updating the Existing Springfield Expo Center
The project would look to renovate, expand, and modernize the existing Expo Center into a full-service convention and events center designed to meet common convention and event facility requirements (examples listed below).
Renovations would introduce modern amenities and functional spaces to attract future events to the area.
How does the current Expo Center compare to a new expanded Convention and Events Center?
The difference between the current facility and a new expanded center is not just size — it is function. Currently, the Expo Center does not have modern amenities that attract competitive events, including a catering kitchen, escalators, and outdated rigging, sound, lighting, and production systems. An expanded facility would look to address these issues. The proposal would expand the facility scope from primarily exhibit use to include additional meeting and ballroom space, which are contingent and subject to final design.
Current facility
- One room (45,000 square feet)
- Cannot host banquets, concerts, meetings, or sports at scale
- Lacks essential infrastructure and flexibility
New expanded facility
- 65,000 square foot exhibit hall
- 30,000 square foot ballroom
- 14,000 square foot junior ballroom
- 16,000 square foot meeting space
- Multiple event types can run simultaneously
- Fully modern technology, kitchen, guest circulation, and amenities
See the full comparison
Current Expo Center
Expanded Event & Convention Center
| Feature | Current Expo Center | Expanded Event & Convention Center |
|---|---|---|
| Total usable event space | 45,000 sq ft | 125,000 sq ft |
| Exhibit hall size | 45,000 sq ft | 65,000 sq ft (expanded existing hall) |
| Grand ballroom | None | 30,000 sq ft |
| Junior ballroom | None | 14,000 sq ft |
| Meeting space | Very limited | 16,000 sq ft |
| Catering kitchen | None | Full-service kitchen |
| Sports capability | Not designed for sports | Multi court indoor sports layouts |
| Concert capability | Limited production capacity | Modern rigging, staging, lighting and power |
| Visitor circulation | No escalators, limited access | Escalators, elevators and improved flow |
| Sears portion | Unusable for event use | Removed and rebuilt as modern event space |
| Flexibility | Single room, single function | Multi venue, multi-function integrated center |
| Competitiveness | Not competitive with peer cities | Fully competitive regional event facility |
| Event activity | 12 events, 36 event days | 164 events, 251 event days |
| Visitor origin | Mostly within 25 miles | Regional and statewide draw |
Source: The City of Springfield, Questions and Answers (2026)
What Are the Projected Benefits of a Convention & Events Center?
According to an Hunden Partners Market Demand, Financial Feasibility & Impact Study (2025) the convention and events center could generate approximately $1.3 billion in visitor spending and $68.7 million in tax revenue over 30 years. Beyond tourism, the facility could also serve as a flexible community space for local events, celebrations, and civic use year-round.
Estimated $1.3 Billion In Spending
Over a 30-year period, total visitor spending is estimated at roughly $1.3 billion across lodging, food and beverage, transportation, retail, and entertainment. (Hunden Partners Study, (2025))
80,000 Hotel Room Nights Annually
Springfield will see approximately 179,500 attendees across 164 events annually. This will approximately contribute to 80,000 hotel room nights annually. (Statistics based on stabilization according to the Hunden Partners Study, (2025))
216 Ongoing Full-Time Equivalent Jobs
The Hunden study estimates approximately 216 ongoing full-time equivalent jobs associated with projected visitor spending generated by the facility. (Hunden Partners Study, (2025))
Based on projected annual visitor spending estimates, this equates to approximately $123,000 per day in projected economic activity over a 30-year period. Actual results would depend on market conditions and event bookings.
Planned Sources of Funding & Financing
This project is planned to be funded through several resources including the proposed 3% tourism tax increase, reallocation of existing tourism tax revenues, potential state matching funds, and a single, one-time allocation from the Spring Forward SGF 1/2-cent sales tax. If the state grant is awarded, the total investment could reach $205 million, to support broader development such as land acquisition and expansion; however, the city identifies $175 million as the project cost if state funding is not received (The City of Springfield, Convention & Events Center Tourism Tax, Flyer, 2026).
Lodging Tax Revenues
The proposed 3% tourism sales tax increase and potential reallocation of existing tourism tax revenues for start-up and operating costs once current bonds are paid off in 2028.
State Matching Grant
A potential $30 million state matching grant authorized under House Bill 7.
Portion of the Spring Forward SGF sales tax
A $30 million allotment from the Spring Forward SGF sales tax is designated to this project.
More About Funding and Finance
Additional support, such as bonds, naming rights, sponsorships may support the funding of the facility.
Debt service would be paid primarily by the proposed 3% lodging tax, with a portion of the City’s existing 5% lodging tax used temporarily during the first seven to ten years to stabilize payments as the facility ramps up.
Existing lodging tax supports prior bonds (Ice Park and Expo Center) and will be paid off in 2028.
After that period, the new tax is projected to fully cover debt service, and existing lodging tax revenues would continue to support operations, maintenance, and tourism programming.
No General Fund dollars are expected for construction, debt service, or operations.
Source: City of Springfield – Convention & Events Center Brochure
If approved by voters, what are the expectations for how the 3% tourism tax revenues could be used after the Convention & Events Center is completed?
The ballot language ties the tax to “attracting travel and tourism, including the construction of a regional convention and event center.” Existing City policy shows 47% of the current 5% lodging tax supports tourism promotion, arts and sports, with the remainder toward debt and capital. Therefore, while specific to tourism infrastructure broadly, revenues could also be used for promotional efforts, arts, sports tourism, or other tourism-related capital improvements as permitted under “attracting travel and tourism.”
One important consideration would be the establishment of a depreciation or reinvestment account specifically for the event center. Ensuring there are dedicated funds for long-term upkeep and capital improvements will be essential to maintaining the facility without relying on future support from the General Fund.
Source: The City of Springfield, Questions and Answers (2026)
Oversights and Use of Funds
All tourism tax revenues are reviewed by the Citizens’ Tax Oversight Committee, an independent group that meets quarterly, reviews spending reports, and reports to City Council twice a year to ensure funds are used as voters intended.
If approved, the ballot language limits use of the tourism tax to attracting travel and tourism, including construction of a Convention and Events Center. Funds are limited to travel and tourism and cannot be used for unrelated city services.
According to current planning documents, the project is proposed to be funded through tourism-related revenues, state matching funds, and a portion of the Spring Forward SGF tax. General fund monies are not designated for use in this project. (City of Springfield, Convention & Events Center Tourism Tax, 2026)
How Does Springfield Compare?
Hotel/Lodging Tax Comparison Map (Regional View)
As of February 1, 2026
Even with the increase, Springfield would remain mid-range and competitive to other area lodging taxes.
The Difference Between Myth and Fact
Large community investments naturally raise questions. To help keep the conversation clear and informed, the following section addresses common myths and provides factual context about the convention and events center proposal.
Myth
#1
Springfield already has a convention center.
Fact
#1
The existing Expo Center is not a full convention center. A convention and events center has exposition space and ballroom space. The current facility only includes exposition space.
Myth
#2
The new 3% tax money would go into the City’s general fund for unrelated services.
Fact
#2
Tax revenues are intended to support travel and tourism, including the construction, operation, and maintenance of a regional convention and events center.
Myth
#3
The project will take away funding for other city priorities, like public safety, homelessness and transportation.
Fact
#3
The project is proposed to be funded through tourism-related revenues and other designated sources, not core city service funds. Future revenue impacts would depend on economic performance.
Myth
#4
A convention center won’t bring any real economic benefit.
Fact
#4
According to the Hunden Report, the new convention and event center is projected to: attract 164 events per year, welcome 179,000+ attendees per year, generate 80,000 new hotel room nights per year, and create $1.3 billion in economic impact over 30 years.
Myth
#5
No matter how people vote, the center will be built anyway.
Fact
#5
If the vote passes: The 3% tax is added to lodging stays, and design work may move forward. If the vote fails: The 3% tourism (lodging) tax will not be implemented, and future decisions would be made at that time.
Myth
#6
This tax will be permanent with no end date.
Fact
#6
The revised ballot language includes a 35-year sunset provision, meaning the tax would expire after 35 years.
How can we Help?
Here is some helpful information in regards to polling places, how to vote, as well as contacts and resources to help if you have any additional questions.
Voting Information
Find Your Voting Location
To find your polling place, check voter registration, or view election details, visit:
How to Vote
Greene County voters may vote in person on Election Day, vote early, or request an absentee ballot depending on eligibility. Deadlines and instructions are available through the County Clerk’s office.
Contacts & Helpful Resources
Questions About the Ballot Measure or Convention & Events Center Plan?
If you have questions regarding the ballot initiative or the proposed Convention & Events Center, please contact:
Mark Hecquet
CEO/President, Visit Springfield
(417) 881-5300 ext. 103
mark@springfieldmo.org
CEO/President, Visit Springfield
(417) 881-5300 ext. 103
mark@springfieldmo.org
Madison Woods
Communications Manager, Visit Springfield
(417) 881-5300 ext. 101
mwoods@springfieldmo.org
Communications Manager, Visit Springfield
(417) 881-5300 ext. 101
mwoods@springfieldmo.org
Helpful Resources
This page is intended to provide factual information regarding the ballot measure. For complete details, voters should review the official ballot language and referenced public documents. Information is summarized from publicly available City documents and resources including the Hunden Feasibility Study.
