After two years of empty show floors and hotel rooms, McCormick Place gears up for the return of conventions to Chicago – Chicago Tribune*

“The business model for convention centers everywhere is that they lose money,” said Larita Clark, CEO of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. “I look at it as we bring in $1.9 billion in economic impact, but the convention center might lose $50 million or $60 million. It’s a great investment.” MPEA also collects about $160 million a year in tax revenue from hotels, restaurants, auto rentals and taxis, which is used finance debt service on $4.4 billion in bonds issued for capital projects such as the hotels and Wintrust Arena.