San Diego Convention Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Diego Convention Center |
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View of the center from the San Diego Bay
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| Address | 111 West Harbor Drive |
| Location | San Diego, California |
| Coordinates | 32°42′23″N 117°09′40″W / 32.7063°N 117.1612°W |
| Built | March 1987 - November 1989 |
| Opened | November 1989 |
| Expanded | September 2001 |
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Construction cost
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$164 million ($387 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Total space | 2,600,000 sq ft (240,000 m2) |
| • Exhibit hall floor | 615,700 sq ft (57,200 m2) |
| • Breakout/meeting | 123,400 sq ft (11,460 m2) |
| • Ballroom | 80,700 sq ft (7,500 m2) |
| Parking | 1950 spaces |
| Public transit access | Convention Center (San Diego Trolley station) |
The San Diego Convention Center is a very large building in San Diego, California. It is used for big meetings, shows, and events. You can find it in the downtown area of San Diego, right by the water. The San Diego Convention Center Corporation manages this huge building.
This center has a massive exhibit area, about 615,700 sq ft (57,200 m2) big. In 2009, it was one of the largest convention centers in North America. A Canadian architect named Arthur Erickson designed the building. It is so big that it can hold up to 125,000 people at once!
One of the most famous parts of the center is the Sails Pavilion. This area is 90,000 sq ft (8,400 m2) and is used for special events and exhibits. The roof of the Sails Pavilion looks like giant "sails." These sails are made from a special material called Teflon-coated fiberglass. They are meant to remind people of San Diego's maritime (sea) history. When it was first built, the Sails Pavilion was open to the outside. Later, glass walls were added to make it more useful in all kinds of weather.
Contents
Building History & Growth
San Diego decided to build a new convention center in 1983. It was built on land owned by the Port of San Diego. Construction started in March 1987. The center officially opened its doors in November 1989. In September 2001, the center was made much bigger. Its size was doubled to host even more events.
Famous Events at the Center
The San Diego Convention Center has hosted many important and fun events.
Comic-Con International
One of the most well-known events is Comic-Con International. This huge convention brings together fans of comics, movies, TV shows, and video games. Thousands of people visit every year to see new previews, meet creators, and dress up as their favorite characters.
Republican National Convention
In 1996, the center hosted the Republican National Convention. This is a big meeting where a political party chooses its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. At this convention, Bob Dole was chosen to run for President, and Jack Kemp was chosen for Vice President.
See also
In Spanish: Centro de convenciones de San Diego para niños
