KFGO file photo
FARGO (KFGO/KVRR) — Fargo City commissioners vote four to one to move forward with full financial vetting of the top two convention center sites including Brewhalla and Fargo Civic Center.
Commissioner Dave Piepkorn was the sole vote against the motion and says there is no rush for the process.
The top four sites were ranked and selected by the Fargo Convention Center Committee.
The committee started its work in January 2025 after voters approved a hotel sales tax increase to pay for the new convention center.
But there are strong concerns among some on the city commission about the finances, profitability and the final location.
“It should be downtown. And my learning from other cities across the country when they have, two of them at the National League of Cities last year spoke highly, emotionally, passionately that they were having new convention centers they fought hard to make sure they were in their struggling downtowns,” said Commissioner John Strand.
City staff will begin its due diligence on the top two sites and report back to the commission during the May 26 meeting.
The final project will be a public-private partnership, with the city financing the convention center and the developer financing the adjacent private development.
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