NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- When the state transfered ownership of the old Niagara Falls convention center to the Seneca Nation to make room for the casino, some people, like Jim Briggs, say it left a void in the area.
"I came downtown more when we had a convention center than I do for the casino," said Briggs, the Niagara-Orleans Central Labor Council president. "We used to bring the kids down for the dog show. They used to have a dog show, they had a monster truck show."
A group of local labor leaders earlier this month asked the New York Power Authority to pay for a feasibility study for a potential convention center. The Niagara County legislature voted unanimously last week to back the application.
"Let's get this feasibility study done an independent study that will determine if this is something Niagara county needs right now," said Niagara County Legislator Jason Zona, D-Niagara Falls.
The group is eyeing a plot of land adjacent to the casino for the project. Those pushing for the study say with all the new hotel development in the area the timing is perfect to get the ball rolling.
"You're seeing an influx of approximately 1,000 rooms and we're missing out on a lot of the year-round activities. We need to have these rooms filled year-round. We're missing out on the large conventions, possibility of minor league sports, concerts, professional sporting events," said Zona.
The city already has a smaller conference center downtown, and John Percy, the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation president, says as far as he knows, the city hasn't lost any events due to lack of venue. He however fully supports the idea of a feasibility study.
"Would a new facility bring more? I don't know so, we have to study it probably to see if the building, we have the facilities we have," Percy said. "Does this facility give more, take away?"
It isn't just about the events for laborers, but also creating long-term employment for residents.
"It'll bring construction trade jobs to begin with and then afterwards to run a convention center like this. Look back at the old convention center. The unions worked in that convention center. Those employees had benefits and wages with disposable incomes. They could go out and support the community they live in," said Briggs.
Mayor Paul Dyster says there are other projects in the pipeline that are further advanced than a new convention center, but he believes it could happen down the road.