Anaheim Convention Center – Overview

History and modernity come together at the world-class Anaheim Convention Center. Having opened in 1967, this facility is over half a century old and has hosted countless events throughout the years. Don’t expect it to show its age however. In fact, the Anaheim Convention Center looks more modern than some convention centers being built today.

A visit to the Anaheim Convention Center is bound to be one of your best experiences attending an event at a convention center. It’s undeniably Californian both inside and out, from the glass walls that bathe much of the interior in natural light to Convention Way, the palm tree-lined road leading up to the facility. Whether you’re there for business or pleasure, every day spent at the Anaheim Convention Center feels like you’re on vacation.

 

Overview

  • Eight million total square feet: Tipping the proverbial scale at 1.8 million square feet, the Anaheim Convention Center is one of the largest convention centers on the entire West Coast. As such an expansive facility, the Anaheim Convention Center is exceptionally well-equipped to host massive gatherings like the NAMM Show, which in 2008 saw 1,560 exhibitors and a record-breaking 88,100 attendees.
  • Over one million square feet of exhibit space: In 2017, the Anaheim Convention Center passed the one million square foot mark in terms of exhibit space. This milestone came with the opening of Anaheim Convention Center North, more commonly referred to as ACC North, an expansion project that tacked on an additional 200,000 square feet of exhibit space to the Anaheim Convention Center’s already impressive 813,000.
  • 176,000 square feet of registration and pre-function space: A total of 176,000 square feet of registration and pre-function space keeps things from getting too crowded whenever there’s a major event taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center. The main lobby also makes for a great first impression. When attendees arrive at the Anaheim Convention Center, they’re greeted by a ceiling that soars up to 190 feet in the sky and glass walls that allow for Southern California’s signature sunshine to flow freely through the space.
  • 152,000 square feet of meeting space: With 152,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, the Anaheim Convention Center can accommodate everything from small breakout sessions to big seminars. The convention center features a total of 99 meeting rooms, most of which are conveniently located on the second and third floor of the facility directly above the exhibit halls and main entrance.
  • 238,000 square feet of ballroom space: Prior to the opening of ACC North, the Anaheim Convention Center had only one ballroom that offered just over 38,000 square feet of space. Fast forward to 2017 onwards and the Anaheim Convention Center features an additional 200,000 square feet of potential ballroom space. Two floors of ACC North, each totaling 100,000 square feet, can be converted into ballrooms depending on event needs.
  • 100,000 square feet of outdoor event space: One of the most striking features of the Anaheim Convention Center, aside from its sky-high spire and retrofuturist arena, is the outdoor area known as the Grand Plaza. Spanning 36,000 square feet in front of the convention center, the Grand Plaza is perfectly equipped to host lunches, receptions, outdoor exhibits, and more. The Grand Plaza is part of the Anaheim Convention Center’s 100,000 total square feet of useable outdoor space.
  • The Arena at the Anaheim Convention Center: The Arena at the Anaheim Convention Center is where it all started. The 7,500-seat facility opened in 1967 with the first incarnation of the convention center following soon after. Since then, the arena has hosted everything from the Anaheim Amigos of the American Basketball Association to the 2012 and 2013 VEX Robotics World Championship. It encompasses 28,000 square feet of useable space. Right outside is the Arena Plaza, which offers additional space for gatherings of up to 5,500.
  • ACC North: When it comes to convention centers, the more space, the better. That’s why in 2015, construction efforts commenced on ACC North. This 200,000-square-foot addition marked the Anaheim Convention Center’s seventh expansion. Notable features of ACC North include 35,000 square feet of pre-function space split among three levels, a 10,000-square-foot outdoor event balcony offering uninterrupted views of the nightly fireworks at neighboring Disneyland, and an integrated parking structure with 1,350 spaces.
  • Flanked by three world-class hotels: Also part of the expansive Anaheim Convention Center campus are three conveniently located hotels. These properties include the Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort, the Anaheim Marriott, and the Hilton Anaheim. The Sheraton features 486 guest rooms and 35,000 square feet of meeting space. The Marriott is slightly larger, featuring 1,030 guest rooms and 100,000 square feet of meeting space. The largest of the three is the Hilton. With 1,576 guest rooms and a whopping 140,000 square feet of meeting space, the Hilton is practically a convention center in itself.

 

Tips

  • If possible, arrive a day or two early to get acquainted with the area. There’s certainly a lot to see in the vicinity of the Anaheim Convention Center. To avoid missing out on what the area has to offer amidst all the hustle and bustle, consider spending an extra day or so in Anaheim. Trust us; you’ll be glad you did!
  • There are more than 100 restaurants near the Anaheim Convention Center, so research which ones you’d like to dine at ahead of time. You’re probably going to be hungry after spending a long day on the exhibit hall floor. That’s definitely not the best time to get stuck trying to figure out where to go eat. To avoid this, do some restaurant research ahead of time. A good place to start would be the Anaheim and Anaheim Convention Center-related resources that can be found on Hotels4Teams.com.
  • Need a reservation? They’ll be happy to make one for you at the Restaurant Reservation Center located in the lobby of the Anaheim Convention Center. Once you decide where you’d like to go eat, don’t waste time making reservations yourself. You’ve got a convention to attend! Simply stop by the Restaurant Reservation Center instead. They’ll be more than happy to take care of all your restaurant-related needs so you can focus on making the most of your time at the Anaheim Convention Center.
  • The Concierge Kiosk can be found next to the Restaurant Reservation Center. If you need help with anything other than restaurant reservations, the friendly staff at the Anaheim Convention Center’s Concierge Kiosk is at your service. You can stop by both the Concierge Kiosk and the Restaurant Reservation Center in practically no time at all since they’re located right next to each other in the Anaheim Convention Center lobby.
  • Anaheim Resort Transportation is a great way to get around the immediate area. Want to go somewhere without having to shell out big bucks for a taxi? Well, you’re in luck! The Anaheim Convention Center is serviced by Anaheim Resort Transportation, or ART for short. ART is a public transportation system that operates within the Anaheim Resort district and the surrounding area. What’s so great about ART is their affordable rates. For instance, a one-day pass costs only $5.50. A three-day and five-day pass can also be purchased for $14 and $23, respectively.
  • Since parking at the Anaheim Convention Center is expensive and can be confusing to navigate, consider some of your other options. Parking at the Anaheim Convention Center will usually run you $15, but it can vary based on event type. While that might not sound too bad compared to the parking fees you’ve encountered at other convention centers, one major downside to parking at the Anaheim Convention Center is that once you leave, reentry is not permitted. Our advice is to make public transportation your go-to for getting around Anaheim so that parking’s not an issue.
  • Wear comfortable shoes and a warm article of clothing that can be put on and taken off as needed. Anyone who’s been to a convention before knows how important it is to wear comfortable walking shoes so your feet aren’t already aching only halfway through the day. That goes double for the Anaheim Convention Center, considering it’s likely bigger than any convention center you’ve been to before. You’ll also want to bring a lightweight, warm article of clothing, such as a jacket or sweatshirt. Things can get pretty chilly inside the Anaheim Convention Center, especially before everyone has arrived, so warm clothes are a good call.
  • Bring a refillable water bottle and phone charger or portable battery. Don’t get roped into buying bottled water while you’re at the Anaheim Convention Center. Just bring a refillable water bottle instead. The convention center features plenty of water fountains where you can top off your bottle for the low cost of free. You should also consider bringing a phone charger or portable battery. The facility’s Wi-Fi can be spotty at times, which may cause your phone’s battery to drain more quickly.
  • Lack of signage can make getting around the Anaheim Convention Center confusing, especially for first-timer visitors. With well over one million square feet of space to traverse, it’s easy to get lost trying to navigate the halls of the Anaheim Convention Center. Don’t rely on signs to help you get around, as they can be too few and far between. Avoid the confusion entirely and print out a map of the facility ahead of time or pick one up as soon as you enter the convention center.

 

Trivia

  • In its lifetime, the Anaheim Convention Center has undergone six major expansions. Like Rome, the Anaheim Convention Center wasn’t built in a day. In fact, it wasn’t built all at once either. It took many years for the facility to become what it is today, with expansions taking place almost every decade. The Anaheim Convention Center underwent expansions during the following years: 1974, 1982, 1990, 1993, 1999 to 2000, and 2016 to 2017. With so many other world-class convention centers lining the West Coast, such as the Los Angeles and San Diego Convention Centers, the Anaheim Convention Center certainly has a lot of competition to keep up with.
  • The Anaheim Convention Center hosted wrestling during the 1984 Summer Olympics. Sports fans visiting the Anaheim Convention Center might find it interesting to know that the facility played a significant part in Olympic history. Although the 1984 Summer Olympics were officially held in nearby Los Angeles, the wrestling events took place at the Anaheim Convention Center. Interestingly enough, the Hilton Anaheim opened that same year in order to accommodate the huge influx of visitors to the area.
  • The Anaheim Convention Center was awarded LEED Gold certification in 2016. Like many other major convention centers around the U.S., the Anaheim Convention Center has made going green a top priority. That’s why in 2016 the facility was awarded LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, a non-profit organization that promotes environmentally conscious building design, construction, and operation. Some of the eco-friendly practices employed at the Anaheim Convention Center include on-site recycling and composting, and energy and water conservation through the use of low-flow equipment, compact fluorescents, LEDs, and more. There’s even a 2,000-square-foot garden located on top of the Arena Box Office!