A convention recently where they checked out Edmonton and Calgary and it was a
no-brainer. Calgary has the airport connections, the Telus Convention Centre opening right onto Stephen Ave with tons of food/retail at the doorstep. Plus the foot traffic on Stephen Ave made the city feel alive plus all the hotel options. Some of the international visitors commented on how boring calgary was

(i can only imagine what they would have said about edmonton!)
Edmonton’s nowhere close on this stuff right now. There are so many pieces that would need fixing before it’s even back in the conversation. The YEG-to-downtown connection is just one part of a much bigger puzzle. it would take a really coordinated effort and probably years before Edmonton is a proper contender on the convention front. The whole thing was a bit jarring in realizing how far behind we are.
with all that said, LRT or something to yeg would be a huge boon and like others pointed out, running it through what is currently fields feels like bit of a no-brainer. A clear straight line vs the current approach of LRT arriving decades later, rammed through windy roads and tearing up existing infrastructure to build.