High-end hotel contemplated at Event Center

High-end hotel contemplated at Event Center San Mateo County looks to developers for proposals to upgrade key event facility By Samantha Weigel Daily Journal staff Aug 2, 2017 Updated 3 hrs ago 2 As the Peninsula’s economy thrives alongside bustling business growth, San Mateo County officials are looking to upgrade a key event facility that attracts people of all ages and backgrounds. The San Mateo County Event Center, best known for hosting the annual county fair, is being considered for new uses including a high-end hotel. Earlier this year, the Board of Supervisors issued a request for qualifications to encourage the development community to offer ideas for the San Mateo site located between San Francisco and Silicon Valley. A portion of the site’s 48 acres could be offered to a hotel developer as officials look to generate revenue and improve the event center facilities. Located next to the massive Bay Meadows mixed-use development and large office buildings popping up nearby, officials hope to attract more events to the county-owned site. Top employers in the area include Visa, SurveyMonkey, GoPro, Coupa Software, PlayStation Network, Gilead, Oracle and others that attract thousands to the region. One goal is to attract more use of the Event Center through improved conference facilities, said Supervisor Carole Groom, who represents San Mateo and is a former city mayor. While still on a “fact-finding mission,” the goal of the hotel would be to help finance improvements, which may be laid out during a separate update of the site’s Master Plan, she said. “There’s a lot of business trade shows and we wouldn’t have shows the size of Moscone Center, but there’s a middle ground and it would be great to have more weekday shows,” Groom said. “It’s a facility that’s of great use, a variety of events fit into it, though it’s older and, like a lot of older things, refurbishing could be helpful.” Last month, supervisors met in closed session to discuss two responses from real estate investment firm Broadreach Capital Partners, and local hotelier Solomon Tsai. Officials are expected to solicit more specific plans from the two developers by crafting a request for proposals. The county notes a sufficient market demand for additional hotels with nearby upscale hotels averaging around 86 percent occupancy last year with rooms going for nearly $194 a night. To create a hotel at the event center, about 3 to 5 acres could be offered under a long-term ground lease on a portion of the surface parking lot, according to the county. County Chief Communications Officer Michelle Durand said officials are undertaking a thoughtful process to consider a variety of options for improving the Event Center. “They’re doing their due diligence,” Durand said. “I think everyone agrees the Event Center could be a little more modern in its facilities and the goal has always been [to have] a place that can attract different events and shows.” Aside from the possible hotel, Durand said Event Center officials are looking toward an economic analysis and master plan update to improve the facilities. While the idea for a hotel has floated around for years, Durand and Groom cited the improved economy and new Event Center leadership as an encouragement for moving forward now. Immediately adjacent to the Saratoga Drive Event Center is the 160-acre mixed-use Bay Meadows Development. More than half way done, the former race track is being transformed into office, commercial and residential space. It hosts the Franklin Templeton Investments and SurveyMonkey headquarters, the private Nueva School, Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices, and will be home to thousands of residents and nearly 780,000 square feet of office space. “That area just seems ripe for having a hotel. There’s a lot of businesses that are bringing a lot of people, and a lot of people living there with residents having people visit,” Durand said. To the north, real estate developer Hines is nearing completion of nearly 380,000 square feet of office space at Concar Drive, and 599 housing units are slated at Station Park Green near the Hayward Park Caltrain station. “We put all that together and said you know, if we’re going to try to renovate the Event Center, a hotel would be a nice addition,” Groom said. “The hotel would do well with the Bay Meadows development, with the Concar development, as well as with additional kinds of shows at the Event Center.” Revenue generated from an agreement with a hotel developer could help the county afford improvements to the Event Center’s facilities. The site attracts a variety of events year-round from trade shows and expos to concerts and the Bay Area Maker Faire. The site also holds the rights to the former Bay Meadows horse race betting with five days of satellite wagering through the San Mateo Jockey Club. Hundreds of annual events are held at the grounds that include seven buildings comprised of 195,000 square feet of space, according to the center. The Event Center parking lot is also frequently rented out to large employers who shuttle employees to office headquarters in other parts of the region, and the city of San Mateo is also looking to underground a storage tank to temporarily hold sewage during extreme storms on a portion of the lot. While located in the city of San Mateo, the Event Center is a county-owned facility. Durand said it’s not yet clear whether a proposal would go through the city’s or county’s planning process. But she emphasized there would be a public planning process and stakeholder engagement. Groom and Durand agreed it’s important to be sensitive to neighborhood concerns and said they’re working closely with city staff as well as the Event Center board. Moving forward, there will be opportunities for public input should officials commit to proceeding with a hotel. Ultimately, they said the project could provide benefits to the city, county and those frequenting an improved Event Center. “That area is growing so much it would benefit the businesses, the residents and certainly the city of San Mateo and the county, to have a facility there that’s world class and in part draws a different caliber of shows,” Durand said. samantha@smdailyjournal.com (650) 344-5200 ext. 106 Twitter: @samantha_weigel