"It is something we should think about," a source in the governor's office tells GlobeSt.com. "We are not, however, raising it as if we need to think about it now."

The source emphasizes that the issue is not something the governor's secretary of administration and finance, Stephen Crosby, is seriously considering now--despite local reports that depict the secretary considering the possibilities for the future of the Hynes. "If the study shows that there is not a need [for the center], then the secretary would put the issue on the table," adds the source.

Crosby commissioned a study that is being funded by the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is exploring local market conditions and the need for an additional convention center. "When we have those results we'll explore some of the answers," notes the source.