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January 2003
Open for Business 2003
EXPO presents its yearly update of new and expanded exhibition facilities worldwide
By Barbara Axelson
All of the exhibit space construction planned before the economy took a nosedive is coming to fruition. In the past 12 months, 10 new facilities have been built with 1.37 million square feet of space, and 19 more have expanded their exhibit space by 4.64 million square feet. By comparison, in 2001, 10 new facilities opened with 2.3 million square feet, and 14 facilities added nearly 2.2 million square feet.
Space has been designed with exhibitors in mind, but amenities have been added for show organizers and attendees, such as an in-house media room, a self-service post office, a gift shop and cyber cafes. In addition, many facilities have boosted their high-tech offerings and such in-house services as catering and streamlined business centers.
New Facilities
Cabarrus Arena & Events Center
4551 Old Airport Road, Concord, NC 28025
Phone: (704) 920-EXPO
Contact: Mark Chappuis
E-mail: info@goldevents.net
www.goldevents.net
Cost: $24 million
Completion: October 2002
Exhibit space: 145,000 sq. ft. in three halls and one ballroom
Meeting space: See above
Special features: The arena can accommodate a variety of shows, concerts or
special events; floor plans are flexible.
Truck access: Two load-in docks, plus 11 drive-in doors
In-house services: Caterers and full kitchen
Parking: 2,500 spaces
Location: 23 miles north of downtown Charlotte on State Road 49, which is scheduled for a four-lane widening in 2004. Concord Regional Airport is 10 miles away.
Hotels: 10 hotel chains in surrounding area
Notable: About 80,000 people celebrated the opening of Phase I during the 50th Annual Cabarrus County Fair. Attractions include the world famous Lowes Motor Speedway, with many race shops, plus the Concord Mills Mall, the No. 2 attraction in the state, with more than 200 outlet shops.
KCI-Expo Center
11730 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153
Phone: (816) 891-7694
Contact: Starlette McHale
E-mail: starlette@kciexpo.com
www.kciexpo.com
Cost: $9 million
Completion: February 2002
Exhibit space: 70,000 sq. ft.
Meeting space: 11,000 sq. ft. in eight rooms
Special features: “Drive-into” exhibit hall
Truck access: Eight loading docks, four dock bays
In-house services: Full catering kitchen and an exclusive caterer, plus exclusive exposition decorator, audiovisual provider, security service and printing company.
Parking: 1,200 free spaces, ground level
Location: In northern Kansas City, only three miles from the Kansas City International Airport. The facility is just two blocks from Interstates I-29 and I-435.
Hotels: More than 800 rooms within walking distance, and 2,000 within 5 miles
Notable: The KCI-Expo Center is located in the heart of America. The facility hosts trade shows, corporate gatherings and social events, accommodating 25 to5,000 people.
Knoxville Convention Center
701 Henley St., Knoxville, TN 37901
Phone: (865) 522-5669
Contact: Susan Eaton
E-mail: seaton@kccsmg.com
www.kccsmg.com
Cost: $93 million
Completion: July 2002
Exhibit space: 119,922 sq. ft. in two halls, A (70,626 sq. ft.) and B (49,296 sq. ft.)
Meeting space: Up to 14 individual rooms; combined rooms accommodate up to 480
Special features: Space for up to 600 booths and 11,000 general participants, includes electrical, plumbing and phone service in floor ports
Truck access: Underground loading dock with space for 12 trucks and one automobile-size freight elevator
In-house services: Catering, decorating, business center, state-of-the-art technology, 11 plasma screens, Internet connectivity in all concourses, in-house media room
Parking: Covered drop-off areas, handicap parking, more than 3,000 spaces in area
Location: Downtown, with access to the newly remodeled Knoxville Metropolitan Airport. Knoxville is within a day’s drive for half the nation’s population.
Hotels: About 1,200 rooms downtown, more than 800 within walking distance
Notable: The 27,300-square-foot ballroom is the largest in East Tennessee and can accommodate 1,850 for a banquet of 2,600 for a meeting.
Lester E. Palmer Events Center
400 S. 1st St., Austin, TX 78074
Phone: (512) 472-5111
Contact: Rusty Nabors
E-mail: info@austinconventioncenter.com
www.austinconventioncenter.com
Cost: $48.3 million
Completion: June 2002
Exhibit space: 70,000 sq. ft. in two halls
Meeting space: 5,000 sq. ft. in seven rooms
Special features: Second-level meeting rooms offer some of the best views of beautiful Town Lake and downtown Austin.
Truck access: Four loading docks
In-house services: Exclusive in-house catering; non-exclusive in-house audiovisual company; 24-hour on-site security handled by department
Parking: 1,200-space on-site parking garage with four levels
Location: Downtown, eight miles from Austin Bergstrom International Airport
Hotels: 4,500 rooms are within walking distance or in local area
Notable: A gently sloping, asymmetrical shade roof creates a generous wrap-around porch to provide additional outdoor event space. Building materials reflect Austin’s casual and local character with natural limestone, wood trusses and decking, textured concrete and galvanized metal roofing. Interior details include stone mosaic coloring and limestone carvings. The center sits alongside Town Lake.
Overland Park Convention Center
6000 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS 66211
Phone: (913) 451-7400
Contact: Charlie Spiegel
E-mail: cspiegel@opcvb.org
www.opconventioncenter.com
Cost: $46.5 million
Completion: November 2002
Exhibit space: 85,000 net sq. ft.,
60,000 in exhibit hall, 25,000 in adjacent ballroom
Meeting space: 15,000 sq. ft. in seven rooms
Special features: 44,000 sq. ft. of pre-function space, 25,000 sq. ft. outdoor courtyard, cyber cafe,complimentary parking
Truck access: Two bays for trucks to drive onto exhibit floor, seven loading docks
In-house services: High-speed Internet access (T3); videoconferencing; satellite broadcasts; in-house audio-visual support; full-service kitchen/catering, including Kosher prep area; valet parking
Parking: 957 spaces, including 225 covered
Location: Suburb in Kansas City Metro area, about 30 miles from Kansas City International Airport
Hotels: 960 rooms in local area
Notable: An enclosed, climate-controlled walkway connects to a 412-room Sheraton Hotel featuring an extra 20,000 square feet of event space. A 25,000-square-foot outdoor courtyard beautifully complements the center. A collection of art from more than 50 renowned local and regional artists, including a blown glass chandelier.
Pennsylvania Expo Center at Lehigh Valley
501 Cetronia Road, Allentown, PA 18104
Phone: (610) 336-9100
Contact: R. Thomas Ballantine
E-mail: info@paexpocenter.com
www.paexpocenter.com
Cost: N/A
Completion: December 2002
Exhibit space: 97,000 sq. ft.
Meeting space: TBD
Special features: High-speed Internet access, sophisticated electrical 220/208/480, experienced event coordination, professional security services, compressed air and water, plant rental, catering and concessions
Truck access: Two drive-in loading doors, two truck-high loading docks, plus a covered exhibitor loading area
In-house services: Catering, electrical and security
Parking: 1,500+ spaces
Location: Suburban; eight miles to Lehigh Valley International Airport
Hotels: 4,000 rooms in the Lehigh Valley within 20 minutes of the Expo Center
Notable: This is a premier show venue for Eastern Pennsylvania and Western New Jersey, with easy access to I-78, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Route 22.
Seahawks Stadium and Exhibition Center
800 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98134
Phone: (206) 381-7555
Contact: Susan Darrington, Director of Event Operations
E-mail: susanda@firstandgoal.com
www.firstandgoal.com
Cost: $300 million to public, $130 million plus cost overruns to Seahawks owner Paul G. Allen
Completion: July 2002
Exhibit space: West Hall, 165,370 sq. ft; East Hall, 90,185 sq. ft.; Stadium West Field Plaza, 60,730 sq. ft.; 525,000 total gross sq. ft.
Meeting space: 10 rooms
Special features: Stadium Seating Bowl: 67,000 seats
Truck access: 10 loading bays, three freight elevators, direct-drive access onto exhibit floor
In-house services: Catering exclusive Aramark, electrical Edlen, telecommunications CCPI, in-house security, box office, guest services staff
Parking: 3,100 parking spaces on-site, 8,400 in surrounding lots, 15,000 spaces in lots downtown
Location: On the corner of S. King St. and Occidental Ave., 13 miles from Seattle Tacoma International Airport
Hotels: NA
Notable: The largest venue of its kind in the Pacific Northwest.
Waccamaw Expo Center
6555 Pottery Road, Spartanburg, SC 29303
Phone: (864) 574-8587
Contact: Patrick C. Henry III
E-mail: info@waccamawexpo.com
www.waccamaexpo.com
Cost: $400,000
Completion: 2002
Exhibit space: Three rooms from 15,000 sq. ft. to more than 100,000 sq. ft., more than 120,000 sq. ft. total
Meeting space: 30 rooms, ranging from 1,600 to more than 10,100 sq. ft.
Special features: 34,700 sq. ft. warehouse features loading docks and drive-through door. The center is at ground level with no stairs.
Truck access: Five loading docks and one drive-through door
In-house services: Catering, restaurant facility, electrical drops, installation of Internet access
Parking: 1,350 spaces
Location: The facility fronts on I-26 and is less than a mile from the intersection of
I-85 and I-26. The closest airport is the Greenville Spartanburg Airport, 24 miles away.
Hotels: Four hotels are located next to the property
Notable: This was the former Foothills Factory Stores Outlet Mall.
Wildwoods Convention Center
4500 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260
Phone: (609) 729-9000
Contact: Helen Kane
E-mail: hkane@wildwoodsnj.com
www.wildwoodsnj.com
Cost: $68 million
Completion: March 2002
Exhibit space: 50,000 sq. ft.
Meeting space: 10 rooms
Special features: There are an estimated 12,000 mosaic tiles throughout the
building, each measuring one square inch.
Truck access: 12 loading docks, two loading doors
In-house services: Well Bread Food Services
Parking: 570 spaces (20 handicap)
Location: An oceanfront resort, the center is located on the beach just steps from the Atlantic Ocean on New Jersey’s southernmost island, with 38 miles of boardwalk. It’s 38 miles from Atlantic City International Airport
Hotels: 10,000 rooms in the local area
Notable: About 285 workers were employed on the project, which began in December 1999. There are 84 perimeter doors to access the building. Twenty thousand yards of concrete were used during construction, enough to pave a 5-foot sidewalk to Ocean City and back, and five main trusses support the fabric roof.
Wisconsin Exposition Center
8200 West Greenfield Ave., West Allis, WI 53214
Phone: (414) 727-8840
Contact: Tom Schmidt
E-mail: tomschmidt@wiexpositioncenter.com
www.wiexpositioncenter.com
Cost: $36 million
Completion: June 2002
Exhibit space: 200,000 sq. ft. on first floor divisible into three halls, 30,000 sq. ft. total
Meeting space: 3,738 sq. ft. in six rooms
Special features: The center is on the grounds of the Wisconsin State Fair Park. Facility also contains 24,000 square feet of pre-function space. The exhibit hall floor load is 450 pounds per square foot.
Truck access: Nine loading docks, five ground-level drive-in bays (16 x 20 ft.)
In-house services: Electric, gas, water, drain, compressed air lines, voice/data ports, security, computerized box office operations, cleaning and concessions
Parking: 8,000 on-site surface parking spaces
Location: Suburban, in Metro Milwaukee area, six miles west of downtown. It is 13 miles to Milwaukee Airport (General Billy Mitchell Field). Easy access is provided fromHighway 94.
Hotels: 6,084 rooms in a 15-minute radius
Notable: The new Wisconsin Exposition Center contains the largest single exhibit hall in the state.
Expansions
Austin Convention Center
500 E. Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 476-5461
Contact: Monica Hammond, Event & Marketing Manager
E-mail: info@austinconventioncenter.com
www.austinconventioncenter.com
Completion: May 2002
Exhibit space: Added 120,125 sq. ft.; new total: 246,097 sq. ft. Also added ballroom: 43,300 sq. ft.; total: two ballrooms, 63,718 sq. ft.
Meeting space: 61,440 net sq. ft. in 54 rooms
Features: Largest ballroom in Texas, elegant glass pavilion in expansion space with 90-ft. ceiling
Hotels: 4,500 rooms in area
Cajundome Convention Center
444 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70506
Phone: (337) 265-2100
Contact: Sam Voisin
E-mail: samv@cajundome.com
www.cajundome.com
Completion: May 2002
Exhibit space: Added 38,000 sq. ft.; new total: 85,000 sq. ft.
Meeting space: 20,000 net sq. ft. in 12 rooms
Features: Superior customer service, finely appointed meeting rooms and high-tech wireless Internet solutions
Hotels: 4,000 rooms within local area
Dallas Convention Center
650 Griffin St., Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: (214) 939-2700
Contact: Dick Martinez
E-mail: dmartinez@dallascvb.com
www.dallasmeetings.com
Completion: September 2002
Exhibit space: Added 203,000 sq. ft. Hall F, largest singular column-free exhibit hall; Total space: 1,019,142 sq. ft.
Meeting space: 142,701 sq. ft. in 96 rooms
Features: Theatre — 1,770 seats;Arena — 9,816. Also added front-entry lobby,inside corridor, bus drop-off, under-building tunnel exit and wireless infrastructure.
Hotels: 6,500 rooms downtown; 65,000 in area
El Paso Convention & Performing Arts Center
One Civic Center Plaza, El Paso, TX 79901
Phone: (915) 534-0600
Contact: Esther Portillo
E-mail: eportillo@elpasocvb.com
www.elpasocvb.com
Completion: May 2002
Exhibit space: Added 20,000 sq. ft.; new total: 80,000 sq. ft. in three exhibit halls, one level
Meeting space: 17,000 sq. ft. in 17 rooms
Features: Wired fiber-optics. Original design was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. Just 400 yards from Mexican Border.
Hotels: 500 rooms nearby
Expo Centre Sharjah
P.O. Box 3222, Sharjah, UAE
Phone: (971) 6-577-0000
Contact: Michael Muller
E-mail: m-muller@expo-centre.co.ae
www.expo-centre.co.ae
Completion: September 2002
Exhibit space: Added 215,285 sq. ft. in four halls, Central Boulevard, banquet hall
Meeting space: 13,993 sq. ft. in five rooms
Features: Wireless data, Internet connectivity, online lead-retrieval system,turnstile-controlled registration for visitors
Hotels: 2,000 rooms in local area
Fort Worth Convention Center
1111 Houston St., Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: (817) 570-2222
Contact: Barbara Heineman
E-mail: Barbara.Heineman@fortworthgov.org
www.forthworthgov.org
Completion: First phase April 2002 (another phase follows in March 2003)
Exhibit space: Added 56,000 sq. ft., 30,000 sq. ft. ballroom; new total: 182,266 sq. ft. contiguous space
Meeting space: 6 new rooms, totaling 27
Features: Ballrooms, theaters, high-tech, connected hotels, and telecommunications upgraded to meet industrystandards
Hotels: 2,300 rooms within walking distance; 11,000 citywide
Georgia World Congress Center
285 Andrew Young International Blvd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Phone: (404) 223-4200
Contact: Pattsie Rand
E-mail: prand@gwcc.com
www.gwcc.com
Completion: Fall 2002
Exhibit space: Added 1.4 million sq. ft., new total: 3.9 million sq. ft. in 12 halls, two ballrooms, two landscaped plazas
Meeting space: Added 29 rooms, 315,000 net sq. ft. in 105 rooms
Features: Two grand ballrooms, 33,000 and 25,700 sq. ft., built-in stages,
state-of-the-art lighting, sound
Hotels: 10,000 rooms within eight blocks
Greater Richmond Convention Center
300 N. 5th St., Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 783-7300
Contact: Carmen Barefoot
E-mail: erandolph@greaterrichmondcc.com
www.richmondcenter.com
Completion: January 2003
Exhibit space: Added 116,216 gross sq. ft.; new total: 178,432 gross sq. ft. level-one exhibit hall, divisible into four sections; 29,111 gross sq. ft. level-two ballrooms, divisible into three sections
Meeting space: 48,128 gross sq. ft. in 32 rooms
Features: 285-seat lecture hall, built-in stage, audiovisual
Hotels: 1,000 rooms (walking distance), 14,000 (metro)
International Centre
6900 Airport Road, Toronto, Ontario L4V 1E8
Phone: (905) 677-6131
Contact: Leslie Bruce
E-mail: lbruce@internationalcentre.com
www.internationalcentre.com
Completion: February 2002
Exhibit space: Added 34,500 sq. ft.; new total: 509,613 sq. ft. of exhibit/meeting space
Meeting space: 38,613 net sq. ft. in 22 rooms
Features: Aviation Ballroom features advanced lighting system, pin spotlights, zoned dimming capable of highlighting each table. State-of-the-art kitchen, soundproof moveable walls create three rooms. Expanded Hall 5 shares lobby with ballroom, accommodating 8,000.
Hotels: 10,000 rooms nearby
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
2950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89119
Phone: (702) 632-7900
Contact: Jim Lewis
E-mail: jwlewis@mrgmail.com
www.mandalaybay.com
Completion: January 2003
Exhibit space: Added nearly 1 million sq. ft.; new total: 1.5 million gross sq. ft.
Meeting space: 333,000 gross sq. ft. (100,000 sq. ft. ballroom); 50,000, 45,000, 32,000 sq. ft. junior ballrooms; 107,000 sq. ft. breakout space divisible into 75 meeting rooms, 235,000 sq. ft. pre-function space
Features: 11-acre beach and lagoon
Hotels: 3,215 rooms on-site, 12,000 rooms nearby
Memphis Cook Convention Center
255 N. Main St., Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 576-1200
Contact: Debbi Foshee
E-mail: dfoshee@memphisconvention.com
www.memphisconvention.com
Completion: December 2002
Exhibit space: Added 63,000 sq. ft., new total 160,000 sq. ft. in four halls and 28,000 sq. ft. ballroom
Meeting space: 46,385 sq. ft. in 27 rooms
Features: 28,000 sq. ft. ballroom seating 2,000+; 2,100-seat Cannon Center for the Performing Arts; skybridge to Memphis Marriott Downtown. Twopre-function areas contain 35,000 sq. ft.
Hotels: 2,000 rooms downtown
Metropolitan Community Colleges’ Business & Technology College
1775 Universal Ave., Kansas City, MO 64120
Phone: (816) 482-5210
Contact: Liz Besser
E-mail: liz.besser@kcmetro.edu
www.mccbtc.com
Completion: September 2002
Exhibit space: Added 15,000 sq. ft.; total: 56,500 sq. ft., divisible into 43,000 and 13,500 sq. ft.
Meeting space: 8,469 total sq. ft. in 10 rooms
Features: Floor ports, high-speed Internet access, voice data, second-floor balcony overlooking exhibits, college tours
Hotels: 330-room Park Place Hotel within walking distance; 975 rooms in area
Minneapolis Convention Center
1301 2nd Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: (612) 335-6035
Contact: Kevin Lewis
E-mail: KevinL@minneapolis.org
www.mplsconvctr.org
Completion: April 2002
Exhibit space: Added 200,000 sq. ft.; new total: 480,000 gross sq. ft. in five halls
Meeting space: Added 37 rooms (42,300 sq. ft.), 95,000 sq. ft. in 87 rooms; added 3,400 seats divisible into four areas.
Features: Auditorium — main fixed section, three circular pods (tier seating), pivots 180 degrees, becoming separate spaces
Location: Downtown, 11 miles from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
Hotels: 6,000 rooms in vicinity
Palais des Congres de Montreal
201 Avenue Viger Ouest, Montreal, Quebec
Phone: (800) 268-8122
Contact: Todd Charlebois
E-mail: tcharlebois@congresmtl.com
www.congresmtl.com
Completion: January 2003
Exhibit space: Added 100,000 sq. ft., one contiguous hall; new total: 200,000 sq. ft.
Meeting space: 64 new meeting rooms for 130,330 sq. ft.
Features: Optional natural light in exhibit hall. There are weather-protected connections to 4,100 hotel rooms. Hallis contiguous with 50,000 sq. ft. column-free space.
Hotels: 14,000 rooms in local area
Poliforum Leon Convention & Exhibition Center
Blvd. Adolfo Lopez Mateos esq. Blvd. Francisco Villa. Col. Oriental, Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico
Phone: (477) 710-7000
Contact: Perla Castillo Mora
E-mail: dircomer@poliforumleon.com
www.poliforumleon.com
Completion: October 2002
Exhibit space: Added 45,059 sq. ft.; new total: more than 480,000 sq. ft.
Meeting space: Seven rooms, three halls divisible into small rooms, 126,160 sq. ft.
Features: 195,000+ sq. ft. floor space without obstructing columns. Natural lighting.
Hotels: 2,000 rooms in vicinity
Reliant Park
One Reliant Park, Houston, TX 77054
Phone: (832) 667-1400
Contact: Michael Clarke
E-mail: information@reliantpark.com
www.reliantpark.com
Completion: April 2002
Exhibit space: Added 701,213 sq. ft. All exhibit space is contiguous and located at street level. Exhibit hall can be divided into 11 increments.
Meeting space: 72 meeting rooms, net space 620 to 22,000 sq. ft.
Features: Rooms have dedicated sound and lighting, Internet connectivity
Hotels: 4,000 rooms within walking distance
Reno-Sparks Convention Center
4590 S. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89502
Phone: (800) 443-1482
Contact: Robert Enriquez
E-mail: conventions@rscva.com
http://conventions.renolaketahoe.com
Completion: August 2002
Exhibit space: Added 121,000 sq. ft.; new total: 381,000 sq. ft. contiguous space. Added two column-free exhibit halls totaling 120,000 sq. ft.
Meeting space: 79,000 sq. ft. with 25 added rooms
Features: 30,000 sq. ft. centrally located, multipurpose swing space; option of two exterior spaces fortemporary pavilion exhibits totaling 59,000 sq. ft. Expanded concourse.
Hotels: 20,000 rooms nearby
Tunica Arena & Exposition Center
3873 U.S. Highway 61 N., Tunica, MS 38676
Phone: (662) 363-3299
Contact: Roger Newman
E-mail: rogernewman@tunicacounty.net
www.tunicaarenaexpo.com
Completion: October 2002
Exhibit space: Added 92,000 sq. ft, new covered arena seating 500; 240 additional (removable) livestock stalls
Meeting space: See above
Features: 606 removable livestock stalls; indoor arena — 48,000 sq. ft. climate-controlled exhibit space, permanent seating, 2,200; outdoor arena, adjacent pavilion with additional 150,000 sq. ft.
Hotels: 6,300 rooms in area
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel
1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Phone: (800) 524-4939
Contact: Kim Greca
E-mail: meetings@swandolphin.com
www.swandolphinmeetings.com
Completion: October 2002
Exhibit space: Added 50,000 sq. ft.; total: 111,000 sq. ft.
Meeting space: 329,000 sq. ft. in 84 rooms total (two boardrooms)
Features: Four ballrooms, 10,000 to 56,000 sq. ft
Hotels: 2,267 rooms on-site
Barbara Axelson is a Chicago-based trade show consultant and freelance writer. She formerly directed publicrelations for Reed Exhibition Cos.’ Chicago division. She can be reached at baxelson@aol.com.
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