Cincinnati Convention Center Undergoes $264 Million Transformation

The newly renamed First Financial Center features modernized event spaces and a connected outdoor plaza.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Cincinnati's convention center has undergone an extensive $264 million renovation, now featuring upgraded ballrooms, meeting rooms, exhibit halls, and a brand-new 2.4-acre public plaza. The transformed facility, renamed the First Financial Center, is designed to create a more distinct convention district and attract more meetings and events to the city's urban core.

Why it matters

The convention center overhaul is part of a broader effort to drive economic momentum and energy in downtown Cincinnati. By creating a more integrated convention district with new outdoor activation spaces, the city aims to lure more national events and conferences, boost overnight stays, and provide year-round vibrancy beyond just the convention walls.

The details

The 18-month renovation project included upgrades to the convention center's ballrooms, meeting rooms, exhibit hall, and prefunction spaces. Key new features include a rooftop terrace with skyline views, a solar array system to offset energy demand, 30 flexible breakout rooms, high-speed internet, and a 780-space parking garage across the street. The center is now directly connected to the new 2.4-acre Elm Street Plaza, which offers flexible outdoor event space for receptions, live music, and food trucks.

  • The $264 million convention center transformation was completed in November 2025.
  • The Elm Street Plaza opened in November 2025 as part of the overall project.

The players

First Financial Center

The new name for Cincinnati's renovated convention center, formerly known as the Cincinnati Convention Center.

Visit Cincy

The city's convention and visitors bureau, which oversees marketing and development efforts for Cincinnati as a meetings and events destination.

Kathy Dawn

The senior director of convention development for Visit Cincy.

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What they’re saying

“The reopening of the First Financial Center is a game-changer for downtown Cincinnati. Paired with the now-open Elm Street Plaza and other new retail, entertainment, and dining, we're unlocking a new level of economic momentum for downtown and the entire region. This investment brings more meetings back into the urban core, drives overnight stays, and creates year-round energy that extends well beyond the convention walls.”

— Kathy Dawn, Senior Director of Convention Development, Visit Cincy (bizbash.com)

“The two-acre plaza is designed to be flexible and social, with open lawn areas, built-in seating, and a bar pavilion, supporting everything from casual networking to full-scale receptions and live entertainment. It creates a natural extension of the First Financial Center, encouraging attendees to step outside, connect, and experience the city in a more relaxed, authentic way. Plus, it will have dedicated programming for locals when not used by groups. Just as important, it stitches the district together, making dining and entertainment easy and walkable.”

— Kathy Dawn, Senior Director of Convention Development, Visit Cincy (bizbash.com)

What’s next

Many marquee events, including the Omega Psi Phi Grand Conclave, Snow and Ice Management Symposium, and Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers Conference, are scheduled to be held at the newly renovated First Financial Center in 2026.

The takeaway

Cincinnati's bold $264 million investment in transforming its convention center into the modern, flexible, and sustainable First Financial Center, combined with the new Elm Street Plaza, positions the city as an increasingly attractive and dynamic destination for meetings, conferences, and events on a national scale.