← All dispatches

Convention City

The Campus Master Plan: What's Been Decided

Convention City · Investigation · July 11, 2026
The Convention Center is redrawing its whole campus. Three firms submitted three very different visions of what it is for — and the choice was made last August, with no public hearing. Take the pick yourself, then meet the three plans.

In Defense of Slop

Convention City · News · June 15, 2026
The contempt for AI "slop" is earned — but aimed at the wrong thing. The problem was never that a machine helped; it's whether the work punches up, is sourced one claim at a time, signed, checkable, and disclosed for a reason.

Magna Cum Laude

Convention City · Business · June 8, 2026
Seattle Convention Center wants to host the city's graduations. And speaking of valedictorians, guess who earned the BEST MANAGED award and a Smart Star?

C-STAR Will Open as a Storefront Safety Hub. Here's What It Looks Like.

Convention City · Politics · May 29, 2026
Renderings obtained through a public-records request show C-STAR as a glass Pike Street storefront — designed with the police department, the Downtown Seattle Association, and the city's CARE team at the table.

"No Such Policy Has Been Adopted"

Convention City · Politics · May 27, 2026
The Seattle Convention Center confirmed it has no sanctuary policy — with a new "Public Safety Hub" opening June 1.

Fell on Black Days

Convention City · Politics · May 19, 2026
A utilization analysis of Seattle Convention Center, based on their own records.

You Are Here (Approximately)

Convention City · Places · May 18, 2026
New wayfinding just dropped! Follow at your own risk

Convention Center Board Majority Up for Grabs as Six Seats Open This Year

Convention City · Politics · May 13, 2026
Ferguson fills empty seat with Roundtable CEO -- five other seats expire July 30.

Please Tell Me There's Nothing to Worry About

Convention City · Politics · May 8, 2026
It's all just a big misunderstanding, right? This isn't what it looks like, isn't that so? Hello? I even made you a sign.

What's Behind the Door at 810 Pike?

Convention City · Politics · May 6, 2026
On June 1, a new public-safety facility opens inside the Seattle Convention Center. It's called C-STAR. What else do we know about it?

You Can't Have Hospitality Without Hosts

Convention City · Business · May 1, 2026

DISPATCH: Week of April 27, 2026

Convention City · News · April 30, 2026
EVENT RAP freestyled the commons argument at the Arch. The op-ed landed in The Urbanist. And a GeekWire piece from Sammamish asks a question that lands closer to home than it looks.

Two Buildings, Two Kitchens

Convention City · Business · April 15, 2026
How convention center food works

It's a Mountain Day

Convention City · Events · April 8, 2026
Eleven works of Pacific Northwest art just joined Seattle's collection of hidden gems.

Game On

Convention City · Events · April 7, 2026
Playing games at Sakura-Con

Shadows on the Wall

Convention City · Politics · March 30, 2026
Seattle Convention Center claims $1.4 million in profit following a $1.9 billion investment. Let's do the math.

Sports Book

Convention City · Business · March 26, 2026
Who needs sports bars when we have the Arch?

Olive Branch

Convention City · Politics · March 24, 2026
A one-bedroom on Pike Street rents for $2,444 a month. You can see the Summit building from your window. The PFD pays $2,426 a year to own the empty lot on the other side of it.

Summit 2030: Big Balloon Bailout

Convention City · Politics · March 16, 2026
Convention center debt service nearly doubles in 2030. To cover it, Seattle hotel revenue would need to grow 9% every year for six years straight.

Three Trails from Emerald City Comic Con

Convention City · Places · March 5, 2026
25,000 fans will pack the convention center this week. Here's what's outside the doors.