Top 9 Biggest Convention Centers in the US Today

Rosemary May 15, 2024 | 17:45

Convention centers are more than just sites for our favorite trade exhibitions and events. Check out Top 9 Biggest Convention Centers In The US today.

US has over 250 convention centers. In many ways, convention centers are literal landmarks in their communities, bringing people from all over the world, boosting their local economies, and benefiting a wide range of industry sectors. However, not all venues are made equal, and while some serve as a second home away from home for face-to-face marketers, others are rarely featured on annual event calendars. So "exhibitoronline" polled its readers to find out which convention centers were most popular with exhibit and event planners.

Based on their comments, "exhibitoronline" has compiled a list of the ten largest convention centers for 2024/2025, and we've highlighted the top 9.

Top 9 Biggest Convention Centers In The US 2024/2025

Top 9 Biggest Convention Centers In The US Today

1. McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois

Total square footage: 2.6 million

170 meeting rooms

600,000 square feet of meeting space

McCormick Place is the leading convention center in North America. The arena is within a few minutes from downtown Chicago and receives over 3 million visitors each year. McCormick Place has over 2.6 million square feet of display space and accommodates some of the world's most prominent conventions, tradeshows, and meetings. The campus is divided into four buildings: North, South, East ("Lakeside Center"), and West.

2. Orange County Convention Centre, Orlando, Florida

Total square footage: 2 million

There are 74 meeting rooms

There are 232 breakout rooms

Orange County Convention Center is the United States' second largest convention center. It also serves as a major magnet for central Florida, with over 1.4 million attendance. It has over 2 million square feet of available exhibition space and is spread across two large buildings.

3. Georgia World Congress Center Authority - Atlanta, Georgia

Exhibition space: 1,500,000 square feet.

The Georgia World Congress facility (GWCC), which opened in 1976 and is located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, has 1.5 million square feet of prime exhibit space and is the world's biggest LEED certified convention facility. Every year, hundreds of significant events are hosted at the site, which consists of three interconnected structures that provide a range of areas. The conference center is also close to the Omni Atlanta Hotel and the Hyatt Regency, both of which offer accommodations for event participants.

4. Sands Expo & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada

Total square footage: 1.2 million

Theater: A theater with 1,890 seats

Capacity: The maximum banquet capacity is 1,260 people

The Las Vegas Convention Center contains over 3 million square feet of exposition and conference space, including 225 meeting rooms. Trade Show News Network has rated Las Vegas the top trade show location in North America for a record 26 years in a row. Las Vegas hosts nearly 24,000 meetings, conventions, and incentive programs each year, ranging in size from 10 to more.

5. Sands Expo & Convention Center/The Venetian Resort - Las Vegas, Nevada

Exhibition space: 1,245,262 square feet.

The Sands Expo & Convention Center, located within the Venetian resort property, hosts several meetings and events throughout the year. The conference center, located at the heart of the world-renowned resort, allows guests to do business while also being entertained without ever leaving the resort.

6. Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY

Total square footage: 1.2 million.

Theater: Broadbent Arena (600 seats)

The Kentucky Exposition Center, sometimes known as the Fairgrounds, offers a unique setting for hosting conventions and large-scale events. It is among the largest convention centers on the East Coast. How large is it? It has a massive 1.2 million square feet of function area.

7. New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA

Total square footage: 1.1 million

The newly rebuilt Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is an excellent choice for major gatherings. You can take advantage of the center's 1.1 million square feet of available space in one of America's most attractive and diverse cities. The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is consistently one of the top ten convention venues in the United States.

8. NRG Park in Houston, Texas

1,056,213 square feet of exhibition space

NRG Park is located in Houston, Texas' cultural center and urban core. The 350-acre complex includes four facilities: the NRG Center, the NRG Arena, the NRG Stadium, and the NRG Astrodome. Each building is highly adaptable, with the capacity to hold huge exhibitions, concerts, athletic events, conventions, and meetings.

9. Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino - Las Vegas, Nevada

Exhibition space: 1,043,030 square feet

Aside from luxurious and opulent rooms, the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino features one of the largest conference halls in the United States directly on the Las Vegas Strip. Mandalay Bay Convention Center provides unusual venues for gatherings of all sizes, including a shark reef aquarium, a beach, and an arena.

Summary

Convention centers are crucial in today's information and technology-driven environment. Project presentations, exhibition centers, and numerous discoveries all necessitate the use of a huge structure ideal for beautiful and fair debate.

The United States is one of the countries that holds the most conferences and exhibits, with MICE tourism accounting for up to 15% of total travel. When organizing large events, you'll need a venue that can accommodate a large number of people. According to some figures, Las Vegas, USA has hosted 21,000 conference gatherings in recent years. The following convention centers hold the majority of large-scale exhibits in the United States.

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