The Monroe County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 2 approved a convention center management agreement with a first-year amount of $531,300, backing continuity of operations as the county prepares for an expanded center opening early next year.

County staff said the current management agreement expires at year-end and that approving the new agreement now ensures contracts for catering, audio-visual and other services remain in force during the transition. The contract was kept largely the same as previous arrangements, with clarifying language added to show how revenues from center operations flow into an account held by the management company and then into the county fund used to pay management fees. County staff noted innkeeper’s tax or other revenues under a separate contract with the Convention and Visitors Commission (CVC) are not part of this agreement.

Staff told commissioners the agreement’s expiration is set to occur three months after the expanded center is open and operating or five years, whichever is sooner, to avoid any coverage gaps during the transition. County officials said they had been working on contract details for about six months to accommodate the expected operational transition and recommended approval to preserve continuity.

Convention center staff highlighted the facility’s economic role: more than 14,000 events and 2.5 million visitors historically, recent use by business and nonprofit groups, and ongoing construction updates for the expanded facility planned to open Feb. 27. The board voted 2–0 in favor of the agreement; no public comment was recorded on the item.

Commissioners said the agreement leaves further discussions about funding and long-term arrangements to the Capital Improvement Board (CIB) and Convention and Visitors Commission.