November 2004 marked the completion of a new downtown convention center. The 200,000-square-foot facility is adjacent to the 319-room Sheraton and the new 162-room Marriott Courtyard, which is scheduled for completion in 2005. The facility connects the Broadway Theater District with the rapidly developing cultural area anchored by the Washington State History Museum and the University of Washington Tacoma campus.
Meeting facilities are available at the 6.1-acre Tacoma Dome Entertainment Complex. The Dome, located near Commencement Bay in downtown Tacoma, contains a 30,000-square-foot Convention Hall with a seating capacity for 2,000 participants. The hall can be divided into six soundproof rooms, providing seminar space. The dome's arena can provide additional seating space for 3,000 persons. The Shanaman Sports Museum, which aims to preserve the area's sports heritage, is also located inside the Dome. Along with the arena, the Convention Hall offers 150,000 square feet of space. Banquet and meeting space are available at Saint Helens Convention Center, a historic landmark. Several other hotels and motels providing additional meeting space are located in the Tacoma area.
Convention Information: Tacoma Regional Convention and Visitor Bureau, 1119 Pacific Avenue, 5th Floor, Tacoma, WA 98402; telephone (253)627-2836; toll-free (800)272-2662; fax (253) 627-8783; email info@travel tacoma.com