Dallas City Hall Wants to Privatize Its Downtown Convention Center

The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center -- the current host of arms displays and tens of thousands of National Rifle Association members -- could be turned over to private hands by the end of the year.In a memo sent to council members this week and released publicly Friday night, City Manager T.C. Broadnax wrote that the city is putting out a request for proposals for a firm that will run the city-owned-and-operated downtown convention center. Broadnax wrote that the move would help the convention center in a "competitive industry and further increase growth in building occupancy, customer satisfaction, event attendance, and revenue." Broadnax said the timing of the announcement has nothing to do with the NRA. City officials have been kicking around the idea since the convention center's experienced director, Ron King, quit last year and left behind a dearth of expertise."No time like the present to see if there's a different way to go," he said Saturday.  Continue reading...