Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Times are about to get even busier in Downtown Buffalo with convention and conference activity picking up at the Buffalo Convention Center along Franklin Street.
Four key events booked at the Convention Center are coming up this July, starting this week with the American Cheese Society Annual Conference with an expected 1,300 attendees. In total, July events at the Convention Center are predicted to draw close to 5,600 out-of-towners to the downtown region.
Then in August, the 2024 Oddities and Curiosities Expo is expected to bring up to an additional 10,000 people to Buffalo, creating an economic impact estimated to be greater than $7 million.
"This is why we invest in these facilities: To bring people here so they can have an incredible experience in Buffalo in the summer," said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz on Monday. "We know a lot of people think about Buffalo and its weather. Well, I can't wait for them to come here and see the great weather that we're going to have in the upcoming week, and realize this is a wonderful community. I'm very glad they're coming - the American Cheese Society, the National Science Fiction Writers Association and others - because when they come here, they're going to spread the message about Buffalo."
While Poloncarz acknowledges the City of Buffalo is not going to compete against cities like New York, Chicago, Orlando and Las Vegas, he knows they city can compete against the likes of Hartford, Grand Rapids, Pittsburgh and the Cleveland for regional conferences.
Looking into the long-term future at the Convention Center, a total of 22 national and regional conventions are already booked for 2025 and 2026, with over 22,000 attendees anticipated that will provide nearly $30 million of an expected economic impact on the region.
Some of the upcoming events for 2025 and 2026 includes:
- The Society of College and University Planning - Atlantic Regional Conference
- Break the Floor Productions - JUMP Dance Convention
- National College Testing Association Annual Conference
- New York School Nutrition Association Annual Conference
- World Canals Conference
- American Association of Aerosol Research
- Center for Inquiry Annual Conference
- National Indian Education Association
- New York State School Boards Association
- The American Academy of Orthopractic Manual Physical Therapists Annual Conference
Patrick Kaler from Visit Buffalo Niagara says they have been very intentional in hosting groups that would also bring back future business by hosting planners.
"Why these are important is that we are bringing in those planners who will bring in future business so it's not just a one off," said Kaler on Monday. "[American] Cheese will come in this week and all those folks will go home, but these other pieces of business are actually bringing in planners who will bring us future business in future years. That's very much a win-win situation for us not only to host the conventions, but also to have the residuals after it takes place."
Kaler adds there are over 60 outstanding leads that could also turn into business for the city that goes through 2028. That would include over 70,000 possible attendees and a $52 million economic impact.
"You can see that Buffalo is back on track. We do have the opportunity to bring more people into our destination, leaving lots of economic impact behind in their way," Kaler said.