Venues

Information and links about potential event venues, for comparison/research purposes.

Greater Columbus Convention Center

http://www.columbusconventions.com/

Offers very large and flexible space. Grand Ballrooms are the largest (though we've used them in the past, probably too big for our needs); C-pods, D-pods, and E-pods offer different-sized rooms. Four attached hotels (Drury, Hyatt, Hilton, and Crowne Plaza); no "bargain" hotels in immediate vicinity.

Just about everything is expensive - convention space, monopoly food provider, monopoly Internet provider. Parking in the area is all paid, $12/day and up. Prevented from selecting our own providers for most services (meals, bar).

Good infrastructure is generally available. Building layout is confusing and very long walks to some hotels.

Ohio Expo Center and State Fair

http://ohioexpocenter.com/

Google map

Most facilities here are targeted toward farm shows and events needing large open spaces. Some buildings have closeable partitions but resulting spaces still tend to be large.

Best buildings look to be the DiSalle Center (largest room holds 450) and the Rhodes Center. Buildings are near each other but not connected.

Rhodes Center has attached dormitory and cafeteria. Not sure how dorm rooms work. Some hotels in area, on-site camping. Parking is $5/entry.

DiSalle is nice, but perhaps too small to contain the entire event. Rhodes has large open spaces.

NorthPointe Hotel and Conference Center

http://www.northpointecenter.com/meet/

Google map

Virginia Building: Largest room (Grand Ballroom) holds 600, can split into 4 rooms. Several rooms with capacity (PDF) of 40-100.

Ohio Building: dining for 375 max.

Buildings and hotel are on same site but not connected by indoor walkway. Hotel has 119 rooms, a dozen more hotels < 1 mile away in Worthington and Polaris.

Far away from downtown.