Tampa Convention Center – Overview

Sitting on the banks of the conjoining Hillsborough River and Garrison Channel, the Tampa Convention Center is a mid-sized facility sporting spectacular waterfront and cityscape views. The convention center is comprised of four floors, spanning 600,000 square feet. It’s not uncommon for the Tampa Convention Center to host over 300 events a year. Visitors can count on numerous useful features and amenities during their time at the venue. Here are some of the most notable aspects and services that the Tampa Convention Center offers:

 

Overview

  • 200,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall – The largest space at Tampa Convention Center is the exhibit hall. It takes up the majority of the third floor. Depending on the type of event, the exhibit hall can be arranged into one of four sized rooms ranging from 75,000 to 200,000 square feet. It can also be divided into three halls – West Hall, Central Hall, and East Hall. Because the exhibit hall hosts the most people per event, the third floor is equipped with several bathrooms located throughout to minimize wait time. Four small cafés can be found in the hallway outside of the exhibit space. There’s also a storage area and loading dock adjacent to the hall. If you’re attending a convention, large-scale conference, or trade show, this will most likely be where it’s held.
  • 36,000 sq. ft. ballroom with capability to be organized in multiple formations – The first floor is dominated by the ballroom area. Tampa Convention Center has a total of four ballrooms named A through D. These ballrooms can be combined if needed to house bigger events. When all four rooms are adjoined, the space can fit as many as 2,000 visitors comfortably. This area is perfect for weddings, banquets, receptions, and other kinds of celebrations. The ballroom can setup in a theater-style that can accommodate 3,600 people; banquets can house as many as 2,080; a maximum of 170 10’x10’ exhibit booths can fit inside the ballroom.
  • 36 flexible meeting rooms – The Tampa Convention Center provides its guests with 36 meeting rooms. 25 of these are housed on the first floor in two hallways surrounding the ballrooms. The other nine are up on the fourth floor. Altogether, the meeting rooms count for more than 84,000 square feet. Multiple sizes of meeting spaces are available. Whether you’re attending a lecture, conference call, or small-scale presentation, the meeting rooms are a prime place to have it.
  • Free Wi-Fi / instant internet access – Free W-Fi is available in only two areas of the convention center. The first is at Bay Bistro, a restaurant on the first floor of the facility. The other is at another restaurant, The Sail, which can be found directly outside of Tampa Convention Center on the banks of the Hillsborough River. The only other option for internet access in the convention center is provided by SmartCity Wireless. This connection is available in the exhibit halls and meeting spaces. However, it isn’t free; a daily fee is attached.
  • On-site hotel Embassy Suites Tampa-Downtown Convention Center – One of the most convenient features that many convention centers offer is an on-site hotel. At Tampa Convention Center, the on-site hotel is Embassy Suites Tampa-Downtown Convention Center. This hotel is accessible from the convention center via skybridge on the second floor. Most of the hotel’s rooms are two-room suites. They’re designed with a private bedroom and separate living area; both rooms have TVs. Some other amenities you can count on are a refrigerator, microwave, well-lit desk, and coffeemaker. Talk about comfy.
  • 11 nearby hotels – In addition to Embassy Suites Tampa-Downtown Convention Center, Tampa Convention Center is located near 11 other hotels. 10 of these hotels are no farther than 1.4 miles from the venue. The 10th is about 8.4 miles away, but has the advantage of being close to Tampa International Airport. In total, there are 3,000 bookable rooms at varying price points for guests to choose from.
  • Seven on-site restaurants – Tampa Convention Center houses seven on-site eateries on its grounds: Bay Bistro, Coffee Bar, Cucina Rosso, East Grill, West Grill, Nourish, and The Sail. They offer a variety of dishes, so you can bet that you won’t go hungry. These dining options will be covered in greater depth in our Dining article for the Tampa Convention Center.
  • Seven nearby parking lots – You can rest assured that you’ll be able to find parking somewhere near the convention center. Visitors can park at any of the seven nearby parking lots and garages. Many of these lots have varying price points that are contingent on event or non-event rates. Check out this page for the rates and locations of every parking lot. Lots fill up quickly though; be prepared to do some walking to and from your car to the venue.
  • UPS Store Business Center – Equipped to handle a high volume of customers, the UPS Store Business Center is your temporary office when you’re at Tampa Convention Center. Digital copies, shipping, receiving, large-format printing, faxes, and more are all possible with the Business Center. You can even utilize one of the computer workstations and check your email or research on the web. The store also provides an on-site graphic designer.
  • First Aid Station – Hopefully you won’t have to utilize this amenity, but it’s always nice to know it’s there. The third floor houses a first aid station that can manage minor medical situations.
  • Several escalators and elevators – You’re going to be doing a lot of walking around the convention center and the city. Any little break is appreciated. It’s nice to know that you won’t have to keep walking up and down flights of stairs at the Tampa Convention Center. All four floors have at least one escalator or elevator; you’re never far from one.

 

Tips

  • Book a room at Embassy Suites Tampa-Downtown Convention Center ASAP – For maximum convenience, it’s best to stay at the attached hotel. Your commute will be as easy as rolling out of bed and walking across the skybridge. You won’t be the only one trying to book at this hotel, however. That’s why it’s in your best interest to book your room as soon as you know you’ll be attending an event at Tampa Convention Center.
  • Don’t hesitate to stop at the information desk – If you need help with something, take advantage of the information desk located on the second floor. The staff can point you in whatever direction you need to go, provide information about the event, and more. They’re friendly and more than happy to help you with whatever you need.
  • Remember the ATM – Running out of cash isn’t a problem thanks to the ATM. You can find it on the first floor near the Franklin Street entrance by The Sail restaurant. Keep in mind, there will be a fee, but if you’re in a pinch, it’s nice to know you won’t have to go far to get some money.
  • Explore the outdoor area – Florida weather is usually a treat, at least when it’s not raining. That’s why the outdoor patio area is such an awesome spot to take a breather. Besides enjoying a relaxing view of the water, you can get out there on it and have some fun. Visitors can rent from Tampa Bay Water Bikes, ride the Tampa Bay Fun Boat, travel around on the Tampa Pirate Water Taxi, or get some exercise on a Kraken Cycleboat. The Riverwalk also runs along the convention center. This is a great walking spot where you can see even more of the city sights.
  • Don’t sit around – Tampa Convention Center is close to a couple popular neighborhoods. The Channelside District is home to some exciting attractions like The Florida Aquarium and Sparkman Wharf. The TECO Line Streetcar also passes through the area, so getting from place to place is stress-free. The other nearby neighborhood is Ybor City. This historic neighborhood is famous for its vintage shops and boutiques, along with its bars and clubs. If you’re ready to shop and party, you can’t miss hanging out in Ybor City.
  • Parking can be tough – There are a lot of parking lots and garages close by, but that doesn’t always mean parking will go smoothly. One of the biggest complaints about attending events at Tampa Convention Center is the parking situation. The lots fill up quickly, and it can get pricey depending on the day and duration your car will be parked. The best thing you can do is arrive to the event earlier to maximize your chances of getting a parking spot as close as possible.