Convention Center Committee - March 6, 2026

Present: Katlyn Balstad, Charley Johnson, Clare Hughes, Joe Raso, Kent Kolstad (via conference call), Emma McIntyre, Taylor Snelling, Denise Kolpack, Tim Mahoney, Dave Piepkorn, Michelle Turnberg, Shannon Full.

Absent: John Strand.

Others Present: Shirley Hughes, Erik Johnson (via conference call), Susan Thompson, Peter Gonzalez (HVS) (via conference call).

Convention Center at Urban Plains
A development team led by Austin Morris from Enclave, Jon Kram, representing Scheels Arena and Brandt Holdings, and Steve Martodam, Brandt Hospitality Group presented a proposal for a "once-in-a-century" Convention Center project.
• Strategic Location: The team emphasized that their site is unique because it has three direct interchange accesses within two miles.
• Design Philosophy: Principal architect Paul McKeever and Lucinda Aron, Principal of Interiors (TVS) described the design as inspired by the "agricultural rhythm" and natural tones of the Red River Valley—incorporating colors of wheat and flax. They also highlighted a collaboration with the Plains Art Museum to integrate local artwork and large LED installations.
• Functionality: The layout is designed to host three distinct groups simultaneously without guest paths crossing. It features:
o An enclosed loading dock for efficient, "invisible" exhibition setup.
o A 67,000-square-foot contiguous exhibit space achieved by connecting the new flex hall with the existing Farmers Union insurance building.
o A ballroom with expansive glass walls to engage with the exterior plaza.
At 2:00 p.m. the Committee took a ten-minute recess.
Downtown Fargo Convention Center
Presenting team was Mike Allmendinger, Kilbourne Group; Alan Dostert, EAPC Architects Engineers; Andrew Obendorf, Gensler; Oliver Finneman and Rich Slagle, McGough Construction; Judy Lewis, Fargo-Moorhead Community Theater (FMCT); Joe Burgum, Folkways Studio; Laura Bowles, Confluence Landscape Architects; Toby Peters, Venu Works.
The Kilbourne Group proposed a Convention Center located in Downtown Fargo on City owned land at the site of the existing Civic Center. The project emphasizes an "authentic, local and distinguishable" visitor experience, leveraging existing Downtown businesses and infrastructure.
• Site Design & Integration:
o The center will serve as a "civic gateway," extending from the current Civic Center site south toward the Library.
o Designers have consulted with the Library to ensure the "Sodbuster" sculpture and surrounding landscaping are preserved.
• Visitor Experience & Logistics:
o Connectivity: The site is already linked to 275 full-service hotel rooms (Jasper and Radisson) via the Skyway system.
o Parking: A customized parking app will provide real-time updates on ramp availability. Primary vehicle drop-offs are planned for 4th Street.
o Catering: Venu Works will provide in-house food and beverage services from a nearly 5,000-square-foot kitchen.
• Financial Proposal:
o Base Project: A $41 million fully-funded project utilizing approved hotel taxes.
o Recommended Expansion: A $46 million version utilizing $5 million from the existing Riverfront TIF to enhance program capabilities.
o Optional Alternates: An additional $2 million from the Riverfront TIF could fund a new Civic plaza and parking structure.
o Fiscal Impact: The City is expected to save $250,000.00 annually by decommissioning the old Civic Center.
Two options were presented for a new 70-room Marriott or Hilton hotel:
1. Building on the top five floors of the current Radisson (pending acquisition of those floors).
2. Building on the former Police station site, which is also Skyway connected.
McGough Construction confirmed that current estimates include the costs for demolition, abatement of the existing Civic Center and necessary sewer connections.
Following the presentations, the Committee discussed the next steps for vetting the four final proposals.
• Third-Party Financial Oversight: Susan Thompson recommended engaging Baker Tilly to perform a "deep dive" into the financial viability and Public-Private Partnership (P3) arrangements of all four finalists.
• Extended Timeline: Because of the detailed financial analysis required, Charley Johnson noted the Committee would not be able to reach a decision by the end of March as originally planned. The Baker Tilly report is expected by
April 17, 2026.
• Expert Analysis: HVS (Peter Gonzalez and Tom Hazinski) will continue their operational review and scoring of the narratives for each proposal.
• Public Comment: The Committee will not hold live public comment sessions during meetings. Instead, comments are being collected via the City website for the Committee to review and address during deliberations.
The Committee scheduled upcoming meetings for March 10th and March 13th to continue general discussions, with final scoring and recommendations pushed to late April 2026.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:19 p.m.