Edmonton Expo Centre
| Edmonton EXPO Centre | |
|
Edmonton Expo Centre logo | |
|
Edmonton Expo Centre entrance | |
| Former names | Northlands Agricom (1984-2009) |
|---|---|
| Location | Northlands, Edmonton, Alberta |
| Coordinates | 53°34′7″N 113°27′29″W / 53.56861°N 113.45806°WCoordinates: 53°34′7″N 113°27′29″W / 53.56861°N 113.45806°W |
| Owner | Northlands |
| Type | Conference centre/Arena |
| Genre(s) | Exhibitions, Conferences, Proms, Sports Arena, Concerts |
| Capacity |
5,527[1] (Hall D permanent seats) 24,000[2] (all rooms reception) |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1984 |
| Expanded | 2009 |
| Website | |
| Edmonton EXPO Centre | |
The Edmonton Exposition and Conference Centre, or Edmonton EXPO Centre for short,[3] is a multi-purpose arena/conference centre variously used as a sports and music venue, and for hosting trade shows and conferences. It is located in Northlands in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, adjacent to Rexall Place. It is owned and operated by the Northlands not-for-profit group. It was previously known as the Northlands AgriCom.
Expansion
Major renovations were completed in December 2009. This expansion added over 200,000 sq ft (19,000 m2) to the original complex. The total is now 522,000 sq ft (48,500 m2), or double the previous total. This was expected to make it the largest such facility in Canada outside of Toronto. The Alberta government contributed $50 million to the project which led to the decision to name the 13,000-square-foot (1,200 m2) ballroom "Alberta Ballroom". The Canadian federal government meanwhile contributed $25 million.[3]
New features include:[4]
- Four new exhibition halls (E,F,G,H)
- New conference area with meeting rooms and ballroom
- New gallery spaces connecting the halls
- A business centre
- A food court with licensed services
- Wireless internet access
History and use
The facility was first built in 1984 on the site of the old Edmonton Gardens, the first home of the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers moved across 118 Avenue in 1974 to the new Northlands Coliseum, now Rexall Place. Prior to 2009, the EXPO Centre was known as the Northlands AgriCom, or simply The Agricom, from the agricultural and commercial trade shows which it was built to host.
From 1996 to 1998 the building was used as a venue for ice hockey with a capacity of 5,527. It was home to the Western Hockey League's Edmonton Ice until the team moved to Cranbrook, British Columbia.
The EXPO Centre hosts such major events as K-Days, which all halls are used for multiple purposes including a food court, casino, and trade show.
Over 2,500 more events are held at the EXPO Centre annually, mainly different types of trade shows.[5] Major events include the Edmonton International Motor Show, the Home and Garden Show, YC Alberta, RV Expo, and Edmonton Pet Expo.
The facility is also sometimes used as a music venue, for example hosting the Offspring on 13 June 2009,[6] Weezer on 22 April 2002,[7] the mini-festival Campus Chaos on 25 September 2009 (headliners Hinder and Lil Jon).[8]
Facilities
| Hall | Square Feet | Booth Capacity | Reception Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 53,262 | 274 | 2,500 |
| B | 58,104 | 301 | 3,000 |
| C | 77,472 | 413 | 4,000 |
| D (arena) | 53,410 | 325 | 3,500 |
| (D) Sales Ring | 8,990 | 65 | |
| E | 53,836 | 253 | 2,500 |
| F | 39,156 | 181 | 2,000 |
| G | 29,328 | 138 | 1,800 |
| H | 36,126 | 178 | 2,000 |
| Alberta Ballroom | 16,677 | 1,200 | |
| Totals | 417,371 | 2,063 | 22,500 |
As a convention centre, the EXPO Centre provides facilities for many different purposes in a wide range of sizes. Upon completion of the expansion in 2009, there has been eight convention halls, six ballrooms, thirteen meeting and boardrooms, a lounge, and several smaller galleries within the building. In addition to these rental spaces, Northlands maintains and staffs several concession stands and other visitor amenities during large events.
References
- ↑ Ticketmaster / Venue: Edmonton EXPO Centre
- 1 2 "Northlands: Capacity Chart". Retrieved 2009-12-09.
- 1 2 Bill Mah (2009-09-08). "Northlands dubs new facility Edmonton Expo Centre". Edmonton: Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on September 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
- ↑ "Project Evolution.09: General Information". Archived from the original on 2008-04-27. Retrieved 2008-09-04.
- ↑ "Edmonton EXPO Centre: Organize". Retrieved 2009-12-09.
- ↑ "The Offspring at Northlands Agricom". Retrieved 2009-12-09.
- ↑ Mike Ross (2009-04-23). "Concert Review: Weezer". Edmonton: Edmonton Sun. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
- ↑ Campus Chaos Official Site
