The A&M conference center is tiny. I organize an event there each year and we have pretty much outgrown it. We have to cap our attendance at 400 registrants.

Aggie_Fire said:

---

FlyRod said:

---

Bob Yancy said:

---

whoop1995 said:

---

When all this conversation started about a convention center it was because college station wanted to break free of A&M and do their own thing because college station wanted to bring in concerts and whatever.

Now A&M is going to be the core? And if the place doesnt make money oh well at least A&M is there to soften the blow?

Wow

---

As one member of council, I never presumed my Alma mater would play anything but a major role in any convention center / multi-event center project. Going all the way back to early 2023, I visited with event planners at Tamu and got a long list of all the conventions and symposiums and research exhibitions they have to hold elsewhere because we don't have the space- and it was a long list! Why would we ignore that massive business segment?

It's never been the case that an event center at considerable scale would work with one entity going it alone. If it moves forward, I'm made confident it'll be transformative for all and thus everyone should be involved.

My $.02 and respectfully

Yancy '95

---

Would you be willing to share that "long list?" Not that I'm skeptical…

I know a little about TAMU and conferences. I'd be curious if it gels with my knowledge of this history.

---

I remember going to the city council meeting where the convention center was first discussed. The gentleman that runs the A&M conference center got up and spoke, and that the City SHOULD build a convention center. This was coming from the other convention center in town! His only caveat was that he said the City should pay someone else to run it

---

Yes I remember. I know it's a long shot to ever convince some on this platform, but after two and half years of research and a study from Hunden Partners- a highly reputed consulting firm with no skin in the game should it be built, the conclusions are pretty straightforward: this community would easily sustain a multi-events center, fill it up and entertain locals and tourists alike.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

Bob Yancy said:

---

Aggie_Fire said:

---

FlyRod said:

---

Bob Yancy said:

---

whoop1995 said:

---

When all this conversation started about a convention center it was because college station wanted to break free of A&M and do their own thing because college station wanted to bring in concerts and whatever.

Now A&M is going to be the core? And if the place doesnt make money oh well at least A&M is there to soften the blow?

Wow

---

As one member of council, I never presumed my Alma mater would play anything but a major role in any convention center / multi-event center project. Going all the way back to early 2023, I visited with event planners at Tamu and got a long list of all the conventions and symposiums and research exhibitions they have to hold elsewhere because we don't have the space- and it was a long list! Why would we ignore that massive business segment?

It's never been the case that an event center at considerable scale would work with one entity going it alone. If it moves forward, I'm made confident it'll be transformative for all and thus everyone should be involved.

My $.02 and respectfully

Yancy '95

---

Would you be willing to share that "long list?" Not that I'm skeptical…

I know a little about TAMU and conferences. I'd be curious if it gels with my knowledge of this history.

---

I remember going to the city council meeting where the convention center was first discussed. The gentleman that runs the A&M conference center got up and spoke, and that the City SHOULD build a convention center. This was coming from the other convention center in town! His only caveat was that he said the City should pay someone else to run it

---

Yes I remember. I know it's a long shot to ever convince some on this platform, but after two and half years of research and a study from Hunden Partners- a highly reputed consulting firm with no skin in the game should it be built, the conclusions are pretty straightforward: this community would easily sustain a multi-events center, fill it up and entertain locals and tourists alike.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

---

So then why doesn't the consulting firm build it if it's a can't miss project

BQ_90 said:

---

Bob Yancy said:

---

Aggie_Fire said:

---

FlyRod said:

---

Bob Yancy said:

---

whoop1995 said:

---

When all this conversation started about a convention center it was because college station wanted to break free of A&M and do their own thing because college station wanted to bring in concerts and whatever.

Now A&M is going to be the core? And if the place doesnt make money oh well at least A&M is there to soften the blow?

Wow

---

As one member of council, I never presumed my Alma mater would play anything but a major role in any convention center / multi-event center project. Going all the way back to early 2023, I visited with event planners at Tamu and got a long list of all the conventions and symposiums and research exhibitions they have to hold elsewhere because we don't have the space- and it was a long list! Why would we ignore that massive business segment?

It's never been the case that an event center at considerable scale would work with one entity going it alone. If it moves forward, I'm made confident it'll be transformative for all and thus everyone should be involved.

My $.02 and respectfully

Yancy '95

---

Would you be willing to share that "long list?" Not that I'm skeptical…

I know a little about TAMU and conferences. I'd be curious if it gels with my knowledge of this history.

---

I remember going to the city council meeting where the convention center was first discussed. The gentleman that runs the A&M conference center got up and spoke, and that the City SHOULD build a convention center. This was coming from the other convention center in town! His only caveat was that he said the City should pay someone else to run it

---

Yes I remember. I know it's a long shot to ever convince some on this platform, but after two and half years of research and a study from Hunden Partners- a highly reputed consulting firm with no skin in the game should it be built, the conclusions are pretty straightforward: this community would easily sustain a multi-events center, fill it up and entertain locals and tourists alike.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

---

So then why doesn't the consulting firm build it if it's a can't miss project

---

I would imagine because they don't own the land, they don't have 5 local vested institutional partners, and because they're not in the venue development and construction business.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

Consultants always have skin in the game.

mason12 said:

---

I'm curious how much space is available considering they announced they are going to put a retirement community behind Century Square.

https://stories.tamu.edu/news/2025/05/28/texas-am-announces-varcity-aggies-first-retirement-village/

---

There's about 160 acres of prime real estate in the heart of Brazos County, Texas, that sits right smack dab in the middle of two great twin cities, with all three proud to call Aggieland home. More than enough space to put a multi-events center at scale, a mixed use retail and commercial district, adequately parked, with plenty of green space left over for a re-imagined Hensel Park woven throughout. All in walking distance from College Station's Northgate, Texas A&M's Century Square, and Bryan's NorthXNorthgate.

C'mon, guys. Doesn't even take vision to see it. It's staring us all right in the face.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

Bob Yancy said:

---

BQ_90 said:

---

Bob Yancy said:

---

Aggie_Fire said:

---

FlyRod said:

---

Bob Yancy said:

---

whoop1995 said:

---

When all this conversation started about a convention center it was because college station wanted to break free of A&M and do their own thing because college station wanted to bring in concerts and whatever.

Now A&M is going to be the core? And if the place doesnt make money oh well at least A&M is there to soften the blow?

Wow

---

As one member of council, I never presumed my Alma mater would play anything but a major role in any convention center / multi-event center project. Going all the way back to early 2023, I visited with event planners at Tamu and got a long list of all the conventions and symposiums and research exhibitions they have to hold elsewhere because we don't have the space- and it was a long list! Why would we ignore that massive business segment?

It's never been the case that an event center at considerable scale would work with one entity going it alone. If it moves forward, I'm made confident it'll be transformative for all and thus everyone should be involved.

My $.02 and respectfully

Yancy '95

---

Would you be willing to share that "long list?" Not that I'm skeptical…

I know a little about TAMU and conferences. I'd be curious if it gels with my knowledge of this history.

---

I remember going to the city council meeting where the convention center was first discussed. The gentleman that runs the A&M conference center got up and spoke, and that the City SHOULD build a convention center. This was coming from the other convention center in town! His only caveat was that he said the City should pay someone else to run it

---

Yes I remember. I know it's a long shot to ever convince some on this platform, but after two and half years of research and a study from Hunden Partners- a highly reputed consulting firm with no skin in the game should it be built, the conclusions are pretty straightforward: this community would easily sustain a multi-events center, fill it up and entertain locals and tourists alike.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

---

So then why doesn't the consulting firm build it if it's a can't miss project

---

I would imagine because they don't own the land, they don't have 5 local vested institutional partners, and because they're not in the venue development and construction business.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

---

So they really don't know anything then. They got paid to say what someone wanted to hear

Bob Yancy said:

---

mason12 said:

---

I'm curious how much space is available considering they announced they are going to put a retirement community behind Century Square.

https://stories.tamu.edu/news/2025/05/28/texas-am-announces-varcity-aggies-first-retirement-village/

---

There's about 160 acres of prime real estate in the heart of Brazos County, Texas, that sits right smack dab in the middle of two great twin cities, with all three proud to call Aggieland home. More than enough space to put a multi-events center at scale, a mixed use retail and commercial district, adequately parked, with plenty of green space left over for a re-imagined Hensel Park woven throughout. All in walking distance from College Station's Northgate, Texas A&M's Century Square, and Bryan's NorthXNorthgate.

C'mon, guys. Doesn't even take vision to see it. It's staring us all right in the face.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

---

Yes indeed. That's the perfect spot in town to build this. In the words of Captain Picard, "Make it so!"

Has any consulting company ever given a city (as a client) bad news to not build a project? And still gotten paid the millions for the research?

Funny I just asked google that and guess what?

Yes, consulting companies have given cities unfavorable news about proposed projects
, recommending against moving forward with construction. This typically happens after a consultant or firm conducts an independent analysis, such as a feasibility study, and concludes that the project is not economically viable, too risky, or not in the public's best interest.
Examples of consultants advising against city projects

• Convention centers: Convention centers are a classic example of public projects that often receive poor recommendations. Research shows they can be risky investments that lose money annually and require taxpayer subsidies.
  
  • Specific case: One consultant report provided to a city concluded that the overall convention market was in sharp decline, making a new center financially unfeasible.

maybe y'all should get another consulting company?

You realize with the right prompting, you can get ai to say whatever you'd like, right? Is there risk? Sure, are there examples of this working? Numerous. It's important to look at similarities with other city's convention centers. If the center is built next to campus, there will be opportunities for its use not only by the city, but also by the school. This can be an important missing piece to both Bryan and College Station.

I understand many of you are inherently risk averse. You're happy with college station and Bryan as is and are not willing to see its improvement and leveling up. I am not. Many are not. The data center would have negatively impacted the city. This will not.

Richleau12 said:

---

You realize with the right prompting, you can get ai to say whatever you'd like, right? Is there risk? Sure, are there examples of this working? Numerous. It's important to look at similarities with other city's convention centers. If the center is built next to campus, there will be opportunities for its use not only by the city, but also by the school. This can be an important missing piece to both Bryan and College Station.

I understand many of you are inherently risk averse. You're happy with college station and Bryan as is and are not willing to see its improvement and leveling up. I am not. Many are not. The data center would have negatively impacted the city. This will not.

---

You realize if you are paying someone they will most likely agree with you right? You just proved my point but I didn't manipulate anything as you suggest. All I did was type in those words.

why is it that in order to build something a company needs to get bids from multiple companies but in order to start the project only one consultant is needed? A consultant bring up bad points is a waste of time and money and nobody wants that as the consular at would be out of a job. Convention center are dying across the usa and so are malls. The city bought part of a mall and now want a convention center.

by the way the city thought the data center was a good idea as well.

The Perryman Group said the state of Texas would lose $217.2 million in gross product and 3,050 jobs when Texas A&M joined the SEC. Consultants deliver the results they are paid for.

The fact that you received exactly what you wanted should make you pause. Not hit the accelerator.

powerbelly said:

---

The Perryman Group said the state of Texas would lose $217.2 million in gross product and 3,050 jobs when Texas A&M joined the SEC. Consultants deliver the results they are paid for.

The fact that you received exactly what you wanted should make you pause. Not hit the accelerator.

---

Yep.

Every time.

BQ_90 said:

---

Bob Yancy said:

---

Aggie_Fire said:

---

FlyRod said:

---

Bob Yancy said:

---

whoop1995 said:

---

When all this conversation started about a convention center it was because college station wanted to break free of A&M and do their own thing because college station wanted to bring in concerts and whatever.

Now A&M is going to be the core? And if the place doesnt make money oh well at least A&M is there to soften the blow?

Wow

---

As one member of council, I never presumed my Alma mater would play anything but a major role in any convention center / multi-event center project. Going all the way back to early 2023, I visited with event planners at Tamu and got a long list of all the conventions and symposiums and research exhibitions they have to hold elsewhere because we don't have the space- and it was a long list! Why would we ignore that massive business segment?

It's never been the case that an event center at considerable scale would work with one entity going it alone. If it moves forward, I'm made confident it'll be transformative for all and thus everyone should be involved.

My $.02 and respectfully

Yancy '95

---

Would you be willing to share that "long list?" Not that I'm skeptical…

I know a little about TAMU and conferences. I'd be curious if it gels with my knowledge of this history.

---

I remember going to the city council meeting where the convention center was first discussed. The gentleman that runs the A&M conference center got up and spoke, and that the City SHOULD build a convention center. This was coming from the other convention center in town! His only caveat was that he said the City should pay someone else to run it

---

Yes I remember. I know it's a long shot to ever convince some on this platform, but after two and half years of research and a study from Hunden Partners- a highly reputed consulting firm with no skin in the game should it be built, the conclusions are pretty straightforward: this community would easily sustain a multi-events center, fill it up and entertain locals and tourists alike.

Respectfully

Yancy '95

---

So then why doesn't the consulting firm build it if it's a can't miss project

---

Because of this (from page 138 of the study).

Year 1 Revenue = $5.2M
Year 1 Expenses = $7M
Year 1 Net Operating Income: (1.8M)
Year 5 Net Operating Income: (1.6M)

For the private sector the proposition is to invest $500m to lose $1.6-1.8m per year.

For the public sector this loss is theoretically offset by increased tax revenue and/or justified by "additional entertainment options." But, if you read my previous post, the study does not cover the current proposal sufficiently to accept these offsets as reality.

That's a rather shallow way to look at it. There are pluses and there are minuses. At 70% use, which is achievable through Bryan, College Station and A&M multi-use, the area around the convention center and the hotels in town stand to gain huge boost in business. There are multiple examples of college town convention centers that have success. If you couple that with the added benefit of an actual indoor concert venue in this town, it doesn't take much to realize this would be an added benefit to the town. It levels up its potential and brings in a whole host of new options and avenues for locals to enjoy.

Look at south college. It's a damn dump. That area would immediately see growth in and around the convention center spawning new businesses and new jobs. This is a net positive any way you look at it. Couple that with a slight increase in hotel tax and locals wouldn't feel much of a sting at all. You are complaining about less than you think.

The question is, does the economic impact of increased tourism, job creation, business creation, around a convention center outweigh an increase in tax? If the tax increase could be captured year to year with an increase in local hotel tax, locals will not feel the sting and instead only see the area surrounding Henkel park blossom with new business, increase jobs and increase opportunity for the community.

What is the acceptable trade off? Do nothing and the city still is without a concert venue, a multi use facility, relegated to using the Expo center well out of town, or create something the city can actually use, bring events and concerts that would not have come otherwise and give added benefit and opportunity to the town?

Can we all at least agree that Hensel park is a perfect spot? That place is a ****hole.

powerbelly said:

---

The Perryman Group said the state of Texas would lose $217.2 million in gross product and 3,050 jobs when Texas A&M joined the SEC. Consultants deliver the results they are paid for.

The fact that you received exactly what you wanted should make you pause. Not hit the accelerator.

---

You guys are making some presumptions that respectfully, are incorrect. Staff were skeptical from the beginning about the convention center. So were many of my colleagues on that council back then, prior to this one. Only 3 of us felt it was worth looking into. We got a majority through what I'll call "reluctant agreement" to pursue the study.

The consultant was paid in stages and it didn't exceed $150,000 in total. And they concluded a "convention center" wouldn't work- that it would have to be a "multi-event center." I knew that, but didn't know what else to call it but "convention center" back then.

And lastly, I have my own research to rely on. I've done 3 years worth now, or thereabouts, in fits and starts. I called the production company general manager for the Jurassic Live dinosaur show. I called the coach of a hockey team down in Corpus Christi and the assistant manager of the American Bank Center down there and wore them out. I looked at the tour stops for Disney on Ice. I looked at the concert tour stops in McAllen. I looked at small markets compared to us and comparable sizes too. I compared SEC school towns to us. Who has a center? Who doesn't? Are they successful? I called event coordinators for Tamu and grilled them on events they have to book out of town for lack of space. I looked at our hotel occupancy rates and compared peaks and valleys with multi-event center towns versus towns like us without one.

I was most heavy into it back in the summer of '23. Here's a radio interview I did with Scott DeLucia on WTAW in the middle of that early effort.

https://wtaw.com/college-station-councilman-bob-yancy-on-wtaw-2/

So, after we get the Hunden study approved and the data start coming in they essentially find the same thing.

If it matters, I've never missed on a real estate transaction in my life. A person has to research til it hurts, but in the end after being armed with that knowledge you have to make a gut call. I know from my research and in my gut, this would be a transformative real estate addition to the quality of life of our area. It would light up other venues in town for non traditional uses, drive revenue and jobs and entertain locals and tourists for decades to come.

If you disagree with me, I totally understand. But respectfully, for me it makes too much sense and the location is perfect.

With that, I'm going to push back and let the land owner do their deliberations and have their discussions. If they don't conclude the same it's over before it starts and we all move on. I hope they conclude moving forward is the best move.

Respectfully & signing off from this thread:

Yancy '95

Completely agree Bob. It's the perfect spot. Some folks on here are just not forward thinking enough. The key aspect is "multi-use"

Quote:

---

If it matters, I've never missed on a real estate transaction in my life.

---

I can assure you it doesn't.

Honestly, your overconfidence is scary.

Before we answer if it will bring revenue to businesses.
Before we answer if it will be good for tourism.
Before we answer if it will give BCS and A&M a better reputation.
Before every other question, the one I care about is...
How much will it cost the taxpayer?

Bob Yancy said:

---

powerbelly said:

---

The Perryman Group said the state of Texas would lose $217.2 million in gross product and 3,050 jobs when Texas A&M joined the SEC. Consultants deliver the results they are paid for.

The fact that you received exactly what you wanted should make you pause. Not hit the accelerator.

---

You guys are making some presumptions that respectfully, are incorrect. Staff were skeptical from the beginning about the convention center. So were many of my colleagues on that council back then, prior to this one. Only 3 of us felt it was worth looking into. We got a majority through what I'll call "reluctant agreement" to pursue the study.

The consultant was paid in stages and it didn't exceed $150,000 in total. And they concluded a "convention center" wouldn't work- that it would have to be a "multi-event center." I knew that, but didn't know what else to call it but "convention center" back then.

And lastly, I have my own research to rely on. I've done 3 years worth now, or thereabouts, in fits and starts. I called the production company general manager for the Jurassic Live dinosaur show. I called the coach of a hockey team down in Corpus Christi and the assistant manager of the American Bank Center down there and wore them out. I looked at the tour stops for Disney on Ice. I looked at the concert tour stops in McAllen. I looked at small markets compared to us and comparable sizes too. I compared SEC school towns to us. Who has a center? Who doesn't? Are they successful? I called event coordinators for Tamu and grilled them on events they have to book out of town for lack of space. I looked at our hotel occupancy rates and compared peaks and valleys with multi-event center towns versus towns like us without one.

I was most heavy into it back in the summer of '23. Here's a radio interview I did with Scott DeLucia on WTAW in the middle of that early effort.

https://wtaw.com/college-station-councilman-bob-yancy-on-wtaw-2/

So, after we get the Hunden study approved and the data start coming in they essentially find the same thing.

If it matters, I've never missed on a real estate transaction in my life. A person has to research til it hurts, but in the end after being armed with that knowledge you have to make a gut call. I know from my research and in my gut, this would be a transformative real estate addition to the quality of life of our area. It would light up other venues in town for non traditional uses, drive revenue and jobs and entertain locals and tourists for decades to come.

If you disagree with me, I totally understand. But respectfully, for me it makes too much sense and the location is perfect.

With that, I'm going to push back and let the land owner do their deliberations and have their discussions. If they don't conclude the same it's over before it starts and we all move on. I hope they conclude moving forward is the best move.

Respectfully & signing off from this thread:

Yancy '95

---

Appreciate your time and effort in this matter Mr. Yancy. The new event center is going to be a huge draw, benefiting both cities, TAMU, TAMUS, and the county. Multiple wins here.

Bob Yancy said:

---

...So here we are. The very first meeting with the largest, most reputable event company on the planet. Not a contract decision meeting. No up or down vote with 5 days notice- just the first kicking of the tires...

---

Bob Yancy said:

---

... should it be built, the conclusions are pretty straightforward: this community would easily sustain a multi-events center, fill it up and entertain locals and tourists alike...

---

Off the top of my head, the Hunden study left unanswered:

• Realistic Financing Scenarios considering partnerships
• Sponsorships
• Infrastructure impact
• Operational outcomes with A&M as a partner
• Operational outcomes with partnerships in general
• Property tax revenues with A&M owning the land
• Tax revenues with A&M events being heavily local attendees
• Downside risk scenarios

There are far more unknowns than knowns. No downsides have been qualified much less mitigated. As you said, this is the beginning. Please don't jump straight to the end.

BobAchgill said:

---

All the council members should be recalled now before the elephant dominates the two cities. Then use the open meetings to void the contracts penned without citizens knowledge. Pressure Texas A&M to cancel the RELLIS datacenter and nuclear power generation plans or have them moved to remote Texas A&M land holdings where there is water security (if that even exists in Texas). How? Make the housing occupancy for family to be biological family as the clear intent of the word.

---

What?

Another one who chooses to live in a college town but hates students. So bizarre.