Austin Convention Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neal Kocurek Memorial Austin Convention Center |
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Convention center seen from northwest corner
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| Address | 500 E Cesar Chavez St Austin, TX 78701 |
| Owner | City of Austin |
| Built | 1989-1992 |
| Opened | July 4, 1992 |
| Renovated | 1999, 2002, 2010, 2011 |
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Construction cost
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$35 million |
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Former names
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Austin Convention Center (1992-2004) |
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Classroom-style seating
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24 (Austin Suite) |
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Theatre seating
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5,285 (Sport Hall) 3,940 (Grand Ballroom) |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Total space | 881,400 square feet (82,000 m2) |
| • Exhibit hall floor | 247,052 square feet (23,000 m2) |
| • Breakout/meeting | 58,152 square feet (5,400 m2) |
| • Ballroom | 63,928 square feet (5,900 m2) |
| Parking | 2 garages, 1685 total spaces |
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Bicycle facilities
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124 bike racks |
The Neal Kocurek Memorial Austin Convention Center is a huge building in Austin, Texas. It's a place where many different events happen. Think of it as a giant meeting spot!
This center is home to the Texas Rollergirls. It used to be where the Austin Toros basketball team played. They moved to the Cedar Park Center in nearby Cedar Park in 2010.
The convention center is also the main spot for South by Southwest. This is a famous festival held every March. It brings together people interested in technology, music, and movies from all over the world.
Contents
History of the Austin Convention Center
Why Austin Needed a Convention Center
Back in the early 1980s, leaders in Austin realized something important. The city was missing out on big conventions. This was because their main event building, Palmer Auditorium, was too small.
So, in 1983, the city council came up with a plan. They wanted to build a new convention center. It would cost about $35 million. This was part of a much larger project.
Choosing the Right Location
The first idea was to build it near Town Lake (now called Lady Bird Lake). But people living nearby and business owners downtown didn't like this plan.
So, the city looked at other places. They finally picked a spot downtown near Waller Creek. This is where the convention center stands today.
How the Center Was Funded
To pay for the new center, the city sold bonds. This was approved by a public vote on July 29, 1989. The grand opening of the Austin Convention Center happened on July 4, 1992.
Making the Center Bigger
On September 1, 1999, work began to make the center much larger. They almost doubled its size! The building grew from about 441,000 square feet to 881,400 square feet.
The newly expanded center officially reopened on May 18, 2002. It now has five large exhibit halls. These halls have over 247,000 square feet of open space. There are also 54 meeting rooms. Plus, it has two huge ballrooms. One of these is among the biggest ballrooms in all of Texas!
Honoring Dr. W. Neal Kocurek
On July 29, 2004, the Austin City Council changed the center's name. They renamed it the Neal Kocurek Memorial Austin Convention Center. This was to honor Dr. W. Neal Kocurek.
Dr. Kocurek was a very important person in Austin. He helped gather support from the community to build the convention center. He passed away earlier that year, in March 2004. The official dedication ceremony for the new name took place on December 2, 2004.
A Sad Day at the Center
On February 22, 2007, something sad happened near the convention center. Dennis Johnson, a famous basketball player and coach, was there. He was the head coach for the Austin Toros basketball team. He passed away later that day.
Images for kids
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The Austin Convention Center interior
