Austin Convention Center

Last updated
Neal Kocurek Memorial Austin Convention Center
AustinConventionCenter.jpg
Convention center seen from northwest corner
Austin Convention Center
Address500 E Cesar Chavez St
Austin, TX 78701
OwnerCity of Austin
Built1989–1992
OpenedJuly 4, 1992 [1]
Renovated1999, 2002, 2010, 2011
Construction cost
$35 million
Former names
Austin Convention Center (1992–2004) [2]
Classroom-style seating
24 (Austin Suite)
Theatre seating
5,285 (Sport Hall)
3,940 (Grand Ballroom)
Enclosed space
  Total space881,400 square feet (82,000 m2)
  Exhibit hall floor247,052 square feet (23,000 m2)
  Breakout/meeting58,152 square feet (5,400 m2)
  Ballroom63,928 square feet (5,900 m2)
Parking2 garages, 1685 total spaces
Bicycle facilities
124 bike racks [3]
Website
Venue Website

The Neal Kocurek Memorial Austin Convention Center is a multi-purpose convention center located in Austin, Texas. The building is the home of the Texas Rollergirls, and was also home to the Austin Toros basketball team, until their move to the Cedar Park Center in nearby Cedar Park in 2010. The facility is also the primary "home base" for the internationally renowned South by Southwest technology, music and film conference/festival, held annually in March.

Contents

The convention center is slated to be torn down in 2025 so that a replacement that'd be double the size of the current facility can be built. The $1.6 billion replacement convention center is expected to open in 2029 and is being funded by the convention centers current revenue and a new 2% hotel occupancy tax. [4] The current convention centers size - and the lack of any other appropriately sized venues - has prevented Austin from hosting (for example) the Democratic National Convention, [5] although it is unclear whether or not the new facility would be of sufficient capacity, either.

History

The Austin Convention Center interior Austinconventioncenter.JPG
The Austin Convention Center interior

In the early 1980s civic leaders became concerned that Austin was being passed over as a site for major conventions because the city's main event facility, Palmer Auditorium, was too small. In 1983 the city council unveiled a concept for a $35 million convention center as part of a $350 million complex of hotels and parkland on the south shore of Town Lake (now Lady Bird Lake). Resistance to this plan by neighborhood groups near the proposed site and downtown business leaders caused the city to consider several other sites, finally choosing a downtown site near Waller Creek for construction. Financing was provided for by a US$69 million bond sale, approved by referendum on July 29, 1989. [6] The grand opening ceremony took place on July 4, 1992. [7]

On September 1, 1999, construction began on an expansion aimed at nearly doubling the size of the facility from 441,000 square feet (41,000 m2) to 881,400 square feet (81,880 m2). [8] The grand reopening took place on May 18, 2002. [9] The enlarged Convention Center's five exhibit halls have a combined 247,052 square feet (22,951.9 m2) of column-free space. There are 54 meeting rooms and two ballrooms, including one of the largest ballrooms in Texas with 40,510 square feet (3,764 m2). [10]

The Austin City Council changed the name of the Austin Convention Center on July 29, 2004, to honor civic leader Dr. W. Neal Kocurek (1936–2004), who helped rally community support for construction of a convention center for Austin. Kocurek died after suffering a stroke on March 29, 2004. The formal dedication took place on December 2, 2004. [10]

On February 22, 2007, former NBA player and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Dennis Johnson suffered a heart attack outside the convention center after a practice by the Austin Toros basketball team. Johnson, who was the Toros' head coach, died later that day. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cedar Park, Texas</span> City in Texas, United States

Cedar Park is a city and a suburb of Austin in the state of Texas, approximately 16 miles (26 km) northwest of the center of Austin. According to the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 77,595, and in 2022 was estimated to be 77,642.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHI Health Center Omaha</span> Indoor arena in Omaha, Nebraska

The CHI Health Center Omaha is an arena and convention center in the central United States, located in the North Downtown neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska. Operated by the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA), the 1.1-million-square-foot (100,000 m2) facility has an 18,975-seat arena, a 194,000 sq ft (18,000 m2) exhibition hall, and 62,000 sq ft (5,800 m2) of meeting space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania Convention Center</span> Multi-use facility in Philadelphia

The Pennsylvania Convention Center is a multi-use public facility in the Market East section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, designed to accommodate conventions, exhibitions, conferences and other events. The L-shaped complex occupies four city blocks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin Spurs</span> American professional basketball team of the NBA G League

The Austin Spurs are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Cedar Park, Texas, and are affiliated with the San Antonio Spurs. The team plays their home games at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. The team has made the postseason in 8 out of 14 seasons in the NBA Development League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Convention Center</span> Municipal convention center in Seattle, Washington

The Seattle Convention Center (SCC), formerly the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC), is a convention center in Seattle, Washington, United States. It consists of two buildings in Downtown Seattle with exhibition halls and meeting rooms: Arch along Pike Street and Summit on the north side of Pine Street. The former straddles Interstate 5 and connects with Freeway Park. The convention center was planned in the late 1970s and funded through $90 million in bonds issued by the state legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kansas City Convention Center</span> Convention center

The Kansas City Convention Center, originally Bartle Hall Convention Center or Bartle Hall, is a major convention center in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It was named for Harold Roe Bartle, a prominent, two-term mayor of Kansas City in the 1950s and early-1960s. Its roof is suspended by four tall art deco inspired pylons, as a component of the Kansas City skyline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex</span> Architectural structure

The Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex is an entertainment, sports, and convention complex located in the heart of Birmingham, Alabama's Uptown Entertainment District. The Sheraton Birmingham and Westin Birmingham are located on the campus adjoining the convention center. Alongside over 220,000 square feet of exhibit halls, meeting space, and ballrooms, the complex features four entertainment venues: a stadium, an arena, concert hall, and theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry B. González Convention Center</span> Convention center located in San Antonio Texas

The Henry B. González Convention Center is the City of San Antonio's convention center located in Downtown San Antonio, Texas, along the banks of the River Walk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baird Center</span> Convention center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The Baird Center is a convention and exhibition center located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The center is part of a greater complex of buildings which includes the UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena and the Miller High Life Theatre, and was a replacement for the former Great Hall portion of the MECCA Complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado Convention Center</span> Convention center in Denver, Colorado, US

The Colorado Convention Center (CCC) is a multi-purpose convention center located in Downtown Denver, Colorado. At 2,200,000 square feet it is currently the 12th largest convention center in the United States. Opening in 1990, the convention center expanded in 2004 to include several meeting rooms, two ballrooms and an indoor amphitheater. Since opening, the center hosts an average of around 400 events per year. Centrally located in the city, it has become one of Denver's many landmarks due to its architecture and is adjacent to the Denver Performing Arts Complex and is just blocks away from the Colorado State Capitol, Auraria Campus and the 16th Street Mall. The CCC is directly served via light rail by RTD's Theatre District–Convention Center station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange County Convention Center</span> Convention center in Orlando, Florida

The Orange County Convention Center is a convention center located in Orlando, Florida. Opened in 1983 as the Orange County Convention and Civic Center, it is the primary public convention center for the Central Florida region and the second-largest convention center in the United States, after McCormick Place in Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana Convention Center</span> Convention center in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.

The Indiana Convention Center is a major convention center located in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. The original structure was completed in 1972 and has undergone five expansions. In total, there are 71 meeting rooms, 11 exhibit halls, and three multi-purpose ballrooms. The connected facilities of Lucas Oil Stadium offer an additional 183,000 square feet (20,000 m2) of exhibit space and 12 meeting rooms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Domain (Austin, Texas)</span> Shopping mall in Texas, United States

The Domain is a high-density office, retail, and residential center in northwest Austin, Texas, United States that has been described as being "Austin's second downtown." It primarily consists of 5-over-1 construction. The initial phase of the project was completed in March 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spokane Convention Center</span>

Spokane Convention Center is the primary convention center in Spokane, Washington, in the northwest United States, and consists of two interconnected buildings along the south bank of the Spokane River in downtown Spokane. The facility, owned and operated by the Spokane Public Facilities District, is part of a larger campus, historically referred to as Spokane Center, that also contains the adjacent First Interstate Center for the Arts which is connected to the Davenport Grand hotel across the street via a skywalk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Columbus Convention Center</span> Convention center in Columbus, Ohio

The Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) is a convention center located in Downtown Columbus, Ohio, United States, along the east side of North High Street.

The Phoenix Convention Center is an events venue in downtown Phoenix, Arizona located along East Monroe, East Washington, East Jefferson, North Second, North Third, and North Fifth Streets. The center opened in 1972, and has since hosted national and regional conventions, trade shows, consumer events, and theatrical productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Jose Convention Center</span> Convention center in Downtown San Jose, California, United States

The San Jose McEnery Convention Center is a convention center in Downtown San Jose, California. The 550,000-square-foot (51,000 m2) facility is the largest convention center in Silicon Valley. It is known for hosting high-profile technology conferences and events like the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference and Facebook F8, as well as non-tech events like FanimeCon and Silicon Valley Comic Con.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhode Island Convention Center</span>

The Rhode Island Convention Center is an exposition center in downtown Providence, RI. Opened in 1993, it is the largest convention center in Rhode Island, with about 130,000 square feet (12,000 m2) of exhibition space, including a 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) exhibit hall. It is connected by skybridges to the Amica Mutual Pavilion, and the adjacent Omni Hotels Omni Providence Hotel. The ground level features a main exhibition hall with 100,000 square feet, and the upper level has a ballroom and meeting halls. The building has a five-story glass front with a large space outside the meeting rooms and exhibit halls where visitors can gather and mingle. The center is operated by the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority, which also operates the Amica Mutual Pavilion and Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas</span>

The Irving Convention Center is a 275,000 sq ft (25,500 m2) facility on a 40 acres (16 ha) tract in Las Colinas Urban Center in Irving, Texas. Opened in January 2011, the convention center and the adjoining mixed use entertainment district are bordered on the west by Highway 114, on the east by Las Colinas Boulevard, on the north by Spur 348/Northwest Highway, and to the south by Fuller Drive. The building is recognized for its unique architecture and vertical design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Marriott Marquis</span> Luxury hotel in Washington, D.C., United States

Marriott Marquis Washington, DC is a luxury hotel located on Massachusetts Avenue NW, in NW, Washington, D.C., United States. The hotel is connected to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center across 9th Street NW via an underground concourse and receives significant business from convention attendees.

References

  1. "Inside the Austin Convention Center". Austin American-Statesman . Austin, Texas: Cox Enterprises. June 28, 1992. p. C1.
  2. "Austin Convention Center renamed for civic leader". Austin Business Journal. American City Business Journals. December 4, 2004. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  3. "Directions, Maps, and Parking". Austin Convention Center. Archived from the original on May 6, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  4. https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-convention-center-to-undergo-4-years-of-construction-in-expansion-project/
  5. https://www.kut.org/politics/2014-02-26/sorry-austin-dems-city-wont-host-2016-democratic-convention
  6. "Convention center bond sale passes". The Daily Texan. July 31, 1989.
  7. "City Convention Center opens on time, with style". The Daily Texan. July 6, 1992.
  8. "Convention Center expansion could boost economic impact". The Daily Texan. September 2, 1999.
  9. "Community Open House to unveil Convention Center expansion with Austin flair". Archived from the original on 2002-06-18.
  10. 1 2 "City to unveil plaque honoring civic leader Neal Kocurek". Archived from the original on 2004-12-17.
  11. Goldstein, Richard (23 February 2007). "Dennis Johnson, 52, N.B.A. Defensive Wizard, Dies". The New York Times.

30°15′45.10″N97°44′24.43″W / 30.2625278°N 97.7401194°W / 30.2625278; -97.7401194