Page 20 - Experience Magazine Fall 2023
P. 20

THE INAUGURAL NEW ORLEANS
                       AUCTION SITE


        ERNEST N. MORIAL CONVENTION CENTER





        Ernest Nathan “Dutch” Morial, a prominent civil rights   With increasing demand to host events in the world-
        advocate, made significant contributions as an American   famous city, the New Orleans Convention Center
        politician. He made history by becoming the first African   expanded further in 1991 with the inauguration of its
        American mayor of New Orleans, holding office from    second phase, effectively doubling its footprint.
        1978 to 1986. During his tenure, Mayor Morial actively   In 1992, the convention center underwent a significant
        championed the development of a new convention        renaming to become the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial
        center to replace the outdated Rivergate meeting facility,   Convention Center, paying tribute to the late mayor
        which could no longer accommodate the city’s needs.   who had unexpectedly passed away in 1989. The new
        In 1981, the city broke ground on the first phase     appellation served as a fitting homage to Mayor Morial’s
        of the newly envisioned New Orleans Convention        contributions to the community and his vision for a
        Center. This ambitious project reached completion     modern convention facility in New Orleans.
        in May 1984, just in time to serve as the expansive   Continuing its growth and success, the convention
        exhibition space for the renowned 1984 World’s Fair.   center welcomed its third phase in 1999. Expanding
        The fair spanned from May to November of that year,   to an impressive footprint of over 10 blocks, the
        showcasing various exhibits and attracting visitors   convention center has emerged as a significant
        from around the globe. Subsequently, beginning in     economic powerhouse for New Orleans. During
        January 1985, the convention center opened its doors   this same year the convention center achieved
        to a host of other events.
                                                              a remarkable milestone, reaching a record-high



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