Finally, there’s the main exhibit hall itself. At a mere 64,410 square feet, Buffalo is automatically ineligible for many conventions and trade shows that its peer cities are getting.

Murphy says he’s often forced to give answers that he knows will turn away business.

“There’s only so much dancing around you can do,” he said.

The positives

The last time a serious push was made for a new convention center was 20 years ago. At that time, consensus was building around a new convention center built at the Mohawk Ramp site, which would have involved acquiring more than two dozen private properties across 11 acres just the northeast of the existing building.

When it became clear the money wasn’t there, the county instead spent $7 million in 2010 to spruce up the existing building. Millions more have since been earmarked to keep the current convention center as competitive as it can be.

Only so much can be done to make a concrete box look welcoming. Whatever can be done, has been done.