The project is expected to boost the city’s position as a hub for major sports, entertainment, and tourism events. (JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock)
A monumental $2 billion construction project has made major moves—here’s how Houstonians will benefit.
It’s been nearly a decade since the George R. Brown Convention Center saw a major renovation—but just a few weeks into 2026, Houston is already seeing visible changes tied to its $2 billion transformation project.
The project is expected to boost the city’s position as a hub for major sports, entertainment, and tourism events. Its first phase includes the construction of GRB Houston South, a new expansion set to open in May 2028.
One of the most noticeable early changes is the demolition of The Rustic, a restaurant and live music venue that sat next to the convention center. The popular spot was cleared in early January to make way for the expansion, and is expected to reopen at its new home, 1718 Jackson St., later this year.
GRB Houston South will span 700,000 square feet and include two exhibit halls, a multipurpose hall, an atrium flex hall, ground-level retail and dining spaces, and a ballroom, once complete.
For Houstonians, the biggest impact is expected to be economic. Officials say the expansion will bring an uptick of available jobs made possible by the expected increase in booking large-scale events.
“ Studies have shown that it will have a $20 billion economic impact over the next 30 years that is incremental to what the building will deliver without expansion,” Houston First Corporation President and CEO Michael Heckman told COURIER HTX. “The total impact of George R.Brown is well beyond that, but that is an incremental $20 billion, which is thousands of more jobs, which is really why we do what we do. It’s jobs, it’s wages, it’s more sales tax for the city to be able to deliver on the services that they do.”
With Houston set to host multiple large-scale events in the next few years, including the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Republican National Convention, construction is not expected to impede any scheduled happenings.
“ It won’t impact the existing George R. Brown. We won’t lose a day of business there,” Heckman said. “It is impacting a little bit of the traffic around the Hilton Americas and Toyota Center as an example. But we’re trying to limit that the best that we can. With progress, there’s a little bit of pain, but we’re working through that pretty expeditiously. When we have the finished result, you’ll have something that is attractive not only for those of us that are Houstonians that live here, but for our visitors.”
