Commission to Probe Feasibility of New Convention Center

BOSTON-The criticism of a local conservative think tank has led local hotel and tourism officials to commission a study determining the economic feasibility of the proposed new convention center here in South Boston. The Massachusetts Lodging Association and the Greater Boston Convention Center Bureau have selected PricewaterhouseCoopers to determine whether a market still exists to support the planned $80- million taxpayer-financed facility.

The Pioneer Institute has been a vocal critic of the center, contending that the market for convention centers is declining nationwide and a slowing economy will further impact the future of the center. “In a landscape that is littered with failed convention centers, I could count on one hand the number of successful centers,” Charles Chieppo of the Pioneer Institute tells GlobeSt.com. Despite that, Chieppo contends, “There has never been a single study that has said, don’t build it. The market is undeniable shrinking yet they have never come out with a report that says anything but build it.”

According to Chieppo, Pricewaterhouse does many convention center studies and tends to give the commissioning entity the results it wants. “You can’t look at these reports in isolation,” notes Chieppo. “They are very lucrative.” ProicewaterhouseCoopers is receiving $120,000 for this study.