Judge Rules in Favor of Austin in Convention Center Petition Lawsuit

The ruling clears the way for the city to continue the $1.6 billion convention center redevelopment project.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 8:39pm

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A Travis County judge has ruled in favor of the city of Austin after a group called the Austin United PAC filed a lawsuit to halt the city's $1.6 billion convention center redevelopment project. The judge's ruling clears the way for the city to continue the massive project, which is already well underway.

Why it matters

The convention center expansion is seen as crucial to Austin's thriving tourism industry, which serves as an important economic driver for the city. The lawsuit filed by the Austin United PAC sought to either halt the project until it was approved by voters or for seven years, whichever came sooner.

The details

The Austin United PAC started a petition last year to stop the convention center project, claiming they had gathered the required 20,000 signatures from registered Austin voters. However, the city clerk determined the petition fell short of the required number of valid signatures. The PAC then filed a lawsuit questioning the validity of the city's signature count, but the judge has now ruled in favor of the city, allowing the project to move forward.

  • In October 2025, the Austin United PAC announced it had enough signatures to submit a petition to the city to stop the convention center project.
  • In November 2025, the city of Austin announced the petition actually fell short of the required number of signatures.
  • In February 2026, a Travis County judge ruled in favor of the city of Austin, clearing the way for the convention center redevelopment project to continue.

The players

Kirk Watson

The mayor of Austin, who called the judge's ruling "a good win for Austinites" and said the convention center expansion is important for the city's tourism industry.

Austin United PAC

A group of Austinites that started a petition to halt the $1.6 billion convention center redevelopment project, either until it was approved by voters or for seven years.

Bill Bunch

An attorney representing the Austin United PAC, who said the group would not back down and would evaluate legal next steps after the ruling.

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What they’re saying

“This is a good win for Austinites. Our City Clerk handled this matter professionally, and I appreciate that professionalism. Plus, the expansion of our convention center is important to our city's future. It serves as a focal point of our important and thriving tourism industry. I'm pleased that we are looking at a bright future.”

— Kirk Watson, Mayor of Austin (KXAN)

“We believe this project is wasteful, inequitable and harmful to Austin's long-term economic, cultural and environmental future. AU PAC's legal team will be evaluating legal next steps. As a result of today's decision, we will immediately begin organizing a new citizen-led petition to place this issue directly before voters on the November ballot.”

— Representative for Austin United PAC (KXAN)

What’s next

The Austin United PAC has stated that it will evaluate legal next steps and immediately begin organizing a new citizen-led petition to place the convention center project issue directly before voters on the November 2026 ballot.

The takeaway

The judge's ruling in favor of the city of Austin allows the $1.6 billion convention center redevelopment project to move forward, despite opposition from the Austin United PAC. This project is seen as crucial to supporting Austin's thriving tourism industry, though the PAC believes it is wasteful and harmful to the city's long-term interests.