The City of Raleigh and Wake County have approved plans to build a new 500,000-square-foot downtown convention center. The existing convention center, which is just east of the new convention center site, will be demolished. The new facility will have a total of 212,000 square feet of rentable space, including 150,000 square feet designated for exhibits and 30,000 square feet for meetings, as well as a 32,000-square-foot ballroom. Memorial Auditorium, which will continue to serve as the performing arts wing of the complex, has seats for 2,277 people, a stage with proscenium arch, and a lobby that can handle receptions for up to 1,000 people.
Other unique meeting sites in Raleigh include Artspace, which can handle receptions for 600 people; the Capital City Club, which can accommodate up to 600 people; and the Angus Barn Wine Cellar, an intimate dining room offering an extensive wine list and seating for groups of 12 to 28 people.
Convention Information: Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitor's Bureau, 421 Fayetteville Street Mall, Suite 1505, PO Box 1879, Raleigh, NC 27602-1879; telephone (919)834-5900; toll-free (800)849-8499