San Antonio's Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, in the heart of San Antonio's historic district along the riverwalk, is the city's largest convention facility. Built in 1968 as part of the HemisFair, it recently underwent a $218-million expansion that increased its square footage to 1.3 million. The convention center has more than 203,000 square feet of meeting space that is divisible in 67 ways, four exhibit halls offering a total of approximately 440,000 square feet of contiguous display space, and three ballrooms. The convention center complex also features the Lila Cockrell Theatre, a performance art theater offering seating for more than 2,500.
The Alamodome, a $186-million state-of-the-art facility that can be used to host large conventions as well as trade shows and other events, opened in 1993. Featuring a Southwestern color scheme, the Alamodome has 160,000 gross square feet of contiguous floor space and configurations for groups of up to 77,000 people. The Alamodome is within walking distance of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and HemisFair Park, the River Walk, the Alamo, and more than 9,000 hotel rooms.
San Antonio's alternate meeting facility is the Municipal Auditorium and Conference, an opulent structure dating to 1926 and lovingly restored with attention to historical detail after a 1979 fire. Its main auditorium offers seating for nearly 5,000. The lobby and two small wings on the main level and approximately 24,000 square feet on the lower level provide additional space for meetings, exhibits, and banquets.
Convention Information: San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau, 121 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205; telephone (210)207-6700