Anaheim Convention Center Approved for 200,000 Square Foot Expansion

March 11, 2014

Just more than a year after the 100,000 square foot Grand Plaza was opened in front of the Anaheim Convention Center, the venue is getting its seventh expansion with 200,000 sq. ft. recently approved by the Anaheim City Council.

“This expansion will elevate the status of the Anaheim Convention Center as an all-encompassing meeting, convention and trade show venue,” said Jay Burress, president and CEO, Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau.

He added, “This new, modern, multipurpose space is designed to keep pace with the trends in the meetings market and is a welcome addition to Anaheim’s world-class convention campus.”

The $180 million project will include state-of-the-art multipurpose, flexible meeting and exhibit space.

The location of the site is the current area known as Car Park 1 (Katella Ave. front facing). The development will involve the replacement of existing parking spaces, addition of new loading docks, vehicular entrance and a climate-controlled pedestrian bridge that will connect to the existing facility.

The expansion project will begin this summer and is projected to be completed by fall of 2016, with Turner Construction Company and architecture firm Populous chosen to provide the design-build services for this project.

The center opened in 1967 and currently features 815,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 130,000 sq. ft.  of meeting space, making it the largest venue on the West Coast.

Last year, the center held 238 events that included trade shows, meetings, conventions and corporate events.

The center boasts several shows on the TSNN Top 250 Trade Show List, such as the Natural Products Expo West show (No. 50) that was held last week and had a record-breaking event with 65,000 attendees and 2,600-plus exhibits on a more than 415,000 sq. ft. showfloor.

Some other big shows at the center are the NAMM Show (No. 33) and MD&M West (No. 52).

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact