Greater Boise Auditorium District approves downtown land purchase for Boise Centre expansion

The district's board approved a purchase agreement for a 4.13-acre property that could anchor a major expansion of the convention facility.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:06am

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The Greater Boise Auditorium District has approved a purchase agreement for a 4.13-acre property at 1050 W. River Street in downtown Boise. The site sits within walking distance of the existing Boise Centre convention facility and represents the district's first concrete move toward a development project that independent analysts say could deliver significant economic benefits to the region.

Why it matters

The land purchase positions the Boise Centre to grow without disrupting its current operations, allowing the convention facility to remain in the heart of downtown and continue attracting more events and visitors to the community. Expanding the Boise Centre could generate stronger economic returns for the region.

The details

The district's board approved the Purchase and Sale Agreement on March 31 for the 4.13-acre property at the northeast corner of 11th and River streets. The purchase price was not disclosed. Board Chair Kristin Muchow said the decision reflects more than a year of deliberate groundwork, with an exploratory committee engaging landowners, developers and civic leaders across the Boise area. Independent analysis by Johnson Consulting reinforced the district's argument that a larger, more competitive Boise Centre would attract more events and visitors.

  • The district's board approved the purchase agreement on March 31, 2026.
  • The exploratory committee has been working for more than 12 months on the project.

The players

Greater Boise Auditorium District

The organization that owns and operates the Boise Centre convention facility. It was established by Boise voters in 1959 and completed construction of the Boise Centre in 1990.

Kristin Muchow

The chair of the Greater Boise Auditorium District's board.

Cody Lund

The executive director of the Boise Centre.

Johnson Consulting

An independent consulting firm that analyzed the potential economic benefits of expanding the Boise Centre.

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What they’re saying

“This is a deliberate, responsible first step. We've done the analysis, we've evaluated our options, and we're moving toward securing land that gives us a real foundation to build from. Now we continue the work of determining what the right project looks like for our community.”

— Kristin Muchow, Board Chair, Greater Boise Auditorium District

“This land purchase positions us to grow without disrupting the facility our clients and partners depend on today. Remaining in and investing further in downtown close to hotels, restaurants, breweries, bars and shops makes great sense.”

— Cody Lund, Executive Director, Boise Centre

What’s next

In the coming months, the Greater Boise Auditorium District will study potential uses for the site and explore funding mechanisms for the expansion project.

The takeaway

The Greater Boise Auditorium District's strategic land purchase positions the Boise Centre to grow and attract more events and visitors to the region, generating stronger economic returns for the community. By remaining in the heart of downtown, the convention facility can continue leveraging the surrounding amenities and infrastructure to serve its clients and partners.