Tampa's $140-million Tampa Convention Center complex is located near Harbour Island. It contains approximately 200,000 square feet of exhibition space and 60,000 square feet of meeting rooms, a 36,000-square-foot ballroom, a 600-room hotel, and office and retail space. The Exposition Hall can accommodate up to 12,000 people for concerts.
The Sun Dome at the University of South Florida, a large multipurpose facility, can accommodate up to 11,500 people for concerts, lectures, trade shows, banquets, and large conventions.
For those seeking facilities for groups ranging in size from 10 to 2,500 people, Tampa has much to offer. Among the choices are the Egypt Temple Shrine, a well-equipped hall for banquets and more entertainment-oriented functions, and the National Study Center, a place for medical professionals to attend courses and lectures required for re-licensing or certification. The Florida State Fair and Expo Park also offers indoor and outdoor facilities. Spacious and convenient meeting areas for smaller groups are also available at nearly 50 hotels and resorts in Tampa, many of them recently renovated.
Convention Information: Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc., 400 N. Tampa St., 2800, Tampa, FL 33602; toll-free (800)826-8358; telephone (813)223-1111; fax (813)229-6616