PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.—The LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge has begun a two-year, $31.4 million expansion that will add 58,000 square feet to the city-owned convention center, including 33,000 square feet of new exhibit space.
The venue will remain open and continue to host events throughout construction.
The project includes a larger main entrance designed to improve guest flow, an expanded exterior plaza, a wider pedestrian walkway from the parking lot, a dedicated tram pickup area, a covered passenger drop-off and pickup station, additional restrooms, and a grab-and-go market for concessions.
Since opening in 2013, the LeConte Center has welcomed 4 million attendees and generated more than 1.6 million room nights for Pigeon Forge. The venue serves meetings, conventions, sporting events, trade shows, and other group gatherings.
“Under the guidance of Director Phil Campbell and his team, the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge has demonstrated itself to be a significant and measurable visitation driver for Pigeon Forge,” says David Wear, Pigeon Forge city manager. “On behalf of our city’s leadership, we’re pleased to provide these facility upgrades to ensure the future success of the LeConte Event Center and Pigeon Forge.”
The expansion will help the destination accommodate additional events and visitors.
“Our visitors fuel our city’s tourism-based economy, and the opportunity to expand the LeConte Center’s event capacity positions us to welcome more events and, subsequently, more visitors, including first-time guests, to Pigeon Forge,” Wear adds.
The LeConte Center currently offers 232,599 square feet of flexible event space, including a 100,500-square-foot, column-free exhibit hall, a 12,000-square-foot multipurpose hall, eight meeting rooms configurable into 15 spaces, and six loading bays.
