| The Austin Convention Center is a huge, sprawling | | | | There are numerous levels and mobile bars and |
| convention complex in the heart of downtown | | | | food stands throughout the complex, all of which |
| Austin, and the facility can host just about any | | | | can be tailored to the client's preferences. Another |
| gathering, from sports events to conventions, | | | | popular yearly event is the Armadillo Christmas |
| garden shows, car shows, sales of every | | | | Bazaar, an Austin tradition during which just about |
| imaginable kind, and political gatherings, among | | | | anything Christmas or gift-related can be found, |
| others. The Center is located between Cesar | | | | especially arts, crafts, home furnishings and |
| Chavez to the South, 4th Street to the north, | | | | decorations, jewelry, and the like. |
| and Red River on one side and Trinity on the | | | | Many of the halls have retractable seating, so the |
| other. It covers numerous city blocks, and is | | | | size of the crowd can be accommodated no |
| practically a city inside a city. | | | | matter how large or intimate, and the over six |
| The Convention Center contains more than | | | | blocks that encompass the Convention Center |
| 800,000 square feet, numerous ballrooms, | | | | property makes walking from one end to the |
| including the largest ballroom in Texas, and very | | | | other quite a hike, but the many elevators, golf |
| high tech, state of the art communication and | | | | carts, and other types of assistance can be of |
| media networks, facilities and devices. There are | | | | benefit to the infirm or just plain tired guests. |
| over 54 separate meeting rooms and a ballroom | | | | Many of the conventions are education related, |
| that will accommodate 3000 diners at once, so | | | | such as school districts, teachers, and college |
| the largest conventions can be easily hosted at | | | | gatherings, and many are high-tech related, such |
| the center, with all the modern accompanying | | | | as the World Conference on Internet Technology |
| technological paraphernalia. | | | | convention, which featured Bill Clinton as a guest a |
| Trade Shows and Expos are two of the most | | | | few years ago, to the delight of the patrons and |
| popular events held at the center, but many | | | | visitors. There is also a yearly boat expo, which is |
| sporting events such as the Austin Ice Bats and | | | | another very popular event. |
| local basketball skirmishes take place there as well, | | | | Some of the events on tap for October of this |
| along with practice and training sessions. The | | | | year include the Austin Board of Realtors |
| Roller Derby team, the Lonestar Rollergirls, is a | | | | Convention, a high school student career expo |
| huge crowd favorite, and two of the most | | | | Skillpoint Alliance, and the World of Warcraft |
| popular yearly events are the Carnival Rio de | | | | World Championships by Upper Deck |
| Brasileiro Celebration at Mardi Gras and various | | | | Entertainment. There is also a Forum for Black |
| rodeo-related activities at roughly the same time | | | | Public Administrators, and shortly thereafter, |
| of year. Many of these events have related | | | | holiday events will begin, many of which are balls, |
| events at the Palmer Event Center as well, which | | | | dinners, and dances. |
| is just across the river. | | | | The Convention Center is in the heart of historic |
| The Gubernatorial Inauguration a few years ago | | | | downtown and also very accessible to I.H. 35 , |
| was one of the most heavily attended and | | | | which is a block east of the facility, and there are |
| publicized events held at ACC, and many local as | | | | also residential areas close by and numerous |
| well as national celebrities and politicians appeared | | | | hotels including the Hilton Garden Inn, the |
| at the event, which was catered by the Aramark | | | | Downtown Hilton, the Marriott, the Hampton Inn, |
| company as well as other local temp and catering | | | | and many others. |
| agencies, who supplied over 50 TABC certified | | | | The center is also very close to Lady Bird Lake |
| bartenders and wait staff galore. Many a local | | | | and its numerous hike and bike trails, so |
| food service industry professional have gotten | | | | convention attendees can get some recreation |
| their start at the Convention Center, although all | | | | and fresh air while in the area. This facility is one |
| personnel is carefully screened and qualified before | | | | of the most impressive in Austin, and has hosted |
| being admitted and allowed to cater the event or | | | | many nationally known gatherings, and it is a sure |
| serve the patrons. | | | | stop on a trip to downtown Austin, so visit the |
| The facility is constructed primarily of limestone | | | | Convention Center, and get a good look at |
| and granite, and has a historical feel yet quite a bit | | | | Austin's largest high-tech meeting facilities! |
| of natural light due to the plethora of windows. | | | | |