Poor ideas for giant expansion

Orange County leaders might barrel ahead with plans to expand their already-massive convention center — and maybe go $700 million deeper into debt to do so.

How wildly irresponsible that would be.

This complex is already one of the largest structures on planet Earth.

At 7 million square feet, it is bigger than the Pentagon.

It’s big enough to engulf the Florida Mall — twice — and still have more square footage left than the Altamonte Mall, Mall at Millenia and Amway Center combined.

The idea that this colossal complex needs a bit more space to succeed is like saying Jabba the Hut needs just one more meal to reach his ideal weight.

Just stop already. This community has serious needs. Another 80,000 square foot of ballroom space isn’t one of them.

Orange County has already thrown billions of dollars at this complex. Yet it still sits empty for much of the year — and often loses money to boot. (Operational deficits can reach $10 million during “good” years.)

Even before the coronavirus pandemic came along, the world was moving away from in-person meetings and toward cyber-connections.