New sports complex, reimagined River Market in Little Rock’s tourism plan

Little Rock, Arkansas – On Wednesday, the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) unveiled the city’s tourist master plan.

Since COVID-19 halted travel and tourism, this is the first time there has been a thorough list of ideas to make the nation’s capital a more desirable location.

The plan covers the following ten years and is projected to bring in more than $1 billion in tourism-related revenue.

The Statehouse Convention Center upgrade is the first item on the to-do list.

“You’ll see new carpet, a new atrium, many upgrades to the facility to make it competitive,” LRCVB’s CEO Gina Gemberling said.

A new sports complex with numerous basketball courts, volleyball courts, and room for up to 4,000 people is also suggested by the concept. In principle, the plan asks for revitalizing the River Market and expanding possibilities for outdoor recreation and riverfront access.

CEO of the Museum of Discovery Kelley Bass stated that new displays are already in the works.

“We’ll debut two brand new galleries in October of this year,” Bass said.

And without delectable food, it wouldn’t be a destination.

Little Rock restaurant owner Jim Keet claimed that soon, more establishments will be launching in Arkansas.

“I think Little Rock is the best-kept secret in the country,” Keet said. “We have all the amenities that other larger cities have without a lot of the problems they have.”