Michael Gray [CC BY-SA 2.0] [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Las Vegas Convention Center – Overview

Scope, functionality, and convenience come together at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Opened in 1959 as a rotunda with an attached exhibit hall, the facility today is not only the largest convention center in the Las Vegas Valley but also the state of Nevada.

As one of the premier convention centers in the western United States, the Las Vegas Convention Center has seen hundreds of thousands of attendees pass through its halls each year. Expansions that have equipped the Las Vegas Convention Center with additional exhibit halls, over 100 meeting rooms, as well as modern amenities ensure smooth operation for any type of event.

Overview

Over three million total square feet: With a grand total of 3,200,000 square feet, the Las Vegas Convention Center ranks as the third largest convention center in the United States, and it only continues to grow, having received five expansions since opening. This size means that the Las Vegas Convention Center is equipped to host events that draw crowds of over 100,000 attendees, such as the COMDEX trade show and the Consumer Electronics Show.
Nearly two million square feet of exhibit space: Adding up to 1,940,631 square feet, the Las Vegas Convention Center houses over 10 percent of the total amount of exhibit hall space in the Las Vegas Valley. To put those numbers into perspective, that means that the convention center can hold over 10,000 10-square-foot booths. The space is divided between the respective halls of the north and south buildings. These spaces can be broken down further into a number of individual or adjoining sections using moveable walls for max customization. In order to help keep this space clear for halls, their subsections are laid out in a way where the halls’ pillars don’t get in the way of events.
Pre-function and registration space: The Las Vegas Convention Center’s grand lobby, registration area, and outdoor exhibit space reach a total of 225,000 square feet of combined space. The north and south halls each have their own modestly sized pre-function space at their respective entrances. Outdoor function space and indoor space can also be joined together for even more versatility.
241,000 square feet of meeting rooms: With 144 meeting rooms with respective seating capacities that range from 20 to 25,000 seats, the Las Vegas Convention Center is built to accommodate small scale shows as well as grand events. These rooms are fully outfitted with modern meeting amenities, such as Wi-Fi and a master antenna system for access to local, cable, and closed-circuit television.
Dining facilities and kitchens: Feeding potentially thousands of attendees at the facility is a tall order, especially if there are multiple events taking place at once. Thankfully, the Las Vegas Convention Center is well equipped to deal with over 1,300 diners between its two main eat-in markets, Lucky’s and Ace’s. In addition to nearly two dozen dining options located at the center itself, catering services such as Arawak or Centerplate can also be enlisted to supply food to events.
Parking at the Las Vegas Convention Center: The Las Vegas Convention Center has parking for more than 10,000 cars. Parking may require a daily fee depending on the type of event. The majority of parking is located on each side of Desert Inn Road in the silver, orange, green, and red parking lots. The remaining options for on-site parking are the blue and gold lots, which are located at the east and west side of the convention center’s north hall, respectively, as well as the bronze lot next to the southern hall.

Tips

There is a fully functioning FedEx Office inside the Las Vegas Convention Center. Should you need to charge your phone or laptop, or send out any documents or packages, you can do so at the FedEx office located on site. In addition to having outlets available for charging, you can buy your own charger there in case you forgot to bring one along.
Bring a warm piece of clothing and comfortable shoes. Even though Las Vegas experiences a desert climate, the city’s main attractions are mostly located indoors. Like the local casinos, the air conditioning in the Las Vegas Convention Center will be running constantly, so it’s a good idea to have a warm piece of clothing you can put on in case you get too chilly. And with over three million square feet to navigate, having the right pair of shoes means you won’t have to worry about your comfort when you’re on your feet all day.
Have a map handy during your visit to the Las Vegas Convention Center. With its enormous size and potential for many events being hosted at once, navigating the Las Vegas Convention Center can be confusing if you’re not near any signage. Bringing a map along will save you from the inconvenience of getting lost, which you certainly don’t want happening when you’ve got an event to attend. If you need a printed map in a pinch, you can always download and print one from the facility’s FedEx Office.
Take the monorail to get to the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Las Vegas Convention Center is only a block from the Vegas Strip, which is one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world. Rather than dealing with traffic congestion on the road or sidewalks, you can opt for a ride on the local Las Vegas Monorail system. The monorail makes a stop at the convention center and is especially convenient if you plan on departing from one of the Strip’s casinos.

Trivia

Famous rock and roll band, The Beatles, have performed at the Las Vegas Convention Center. There’s a short list of venues that can claim to have hosted shows while the Fab Four together and touring and the Las Vegas Convention Center is on it. The show took place at the height of Beatlemania and the setlist included covers by both Chuck Berry and Little Richard as well as Beatles classics like “Can’t Buy Me Love.”
Many historic boxing bouts have taken place at the Las Vegas Convention Center. During the 1960s, the Las Vegas Convention Center’s rotunda was host to a number of boxing matches featuring some of the biggest names to grace the sport. Sugar Ray Robinson, Floyd Patterson, and Muhammad Ali, a legendary boxer and one of the world’s most celebrated sports figures, have all competed in matches at the center.
The Las Vegas Convention Center has received Gold Certification from the AIPC. Considering the number of expansions and updates it has received, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the Las Vegas Convention Center has been given the highest level of certification from the AIPC. The center’s rating is based on quality of the facility and operations, safety, employee relations, environmental responsibility, and more.
Expansions of the Las Vegas Convention Center provide lots of opportunity for the local economy. As of 2018, the Las Vegas Convention Center has undergone 13 expansions that have transformed it from its humble beginnings into the expansive facility that it is today. Since opening, the center has provided over $800 million for the local economy and provided thousands of jobs. The Las Vegas Convention Center is expected to expand even more in the future with its 14th renovation adding a walkway that connects directly to the Vegas Strip for easy pedestrian access and police and fire services on the premises.