(Photo from WHBY archives)
The opening of the Fox Cities Exhibition Center in downtown Appleton was one of the top local stories of 2018.
The first events in the nearly $32 million facility were held in January. Talk of building an expo center for larger conventions started about 30 years ago.
Walt Rugland of Appleton was involved for the final decade, and he says it’s something that was needed, and it will be very successful. He says the whole focus is to have people come to the Fox Cities, and share what the community has to offer. He believes they’ll have fun, and come back again.
Ten communities came together to build the facility. They all agreed to raise their hotel room tax to pay for the project.
The Fox Cities Exhibition Center is expected to have an annual economic impact of $6.5 million.
