Trade shows with up to 500 booths, concerts for 7,000 and seated banquets for more than 1,000 guests can be organized at the Tucson Expo Center, a 155,000 square foot event facility on East Irvington Road in Tucson, Arizona. The center rents its halls for expos, conventions, corporate events, festivals and concerts, and its two carpeted ballrooms for weddings, quinceañeras and private parties.
Seminars and company events
Business clients mostly come for exhibitions and large-format events: trade fairs, consumer shows, conventions, corporate functions and concerts. The East and West Exhibit Hall is an 80,000 square foot open space with a concrete floor, laid out for up to 500 booths of 10 by 8 feet. It can be used whole or split into two halls of 40,000 square feet each. A stage of 55 by 20 feet is available, with catwalk sections of 12 by 8 feet. The two carpeted halls, North and South, suit conferences, award dinners and company celebrations. Each hall has a loading zone and storage, with 20-amp and 50-amp outlets on 230 volts, and phone lines and internet connections can be supplied for exhibitor displays. On-site staff include an operations manager, licensed electricians, a cleaning crew, parking attendants and security.
Weddings and receptions
For private events the two carpeted halls are sold as ballrooms. The Ruby Ballroom, the South Hall, covers 25,000 square feet, seats more than 1,500 and has a permanent stage; themed parties are allowed. The Sapphire Ballroom, the North Hall, covers 20,000 square feet and is most comfortable for 300 to 600 guests, with room for a cake area, a photo booth or a bounce house. The two halls are fully separated, so two private events can run on the same night. Packages include 38 tables and 300 chairs, four court tables, gift, sign-in and cake tables, two candy tables and a catering area. Extra guests in blocks of 100, extra hours, drink packages and LED lighting can be added. Table linens are not included.
Rooms and capacities
The venue's room planning table lists East and West combined at 175 by 425 feet for 5,000 standing or 2,500 seated, each half at 2,500 standing or 1,250 seated, the North Hall at 155 by 125 feet for 1,650 standing or 850 seated, and the South Hall at 155 by 150 feet for 1,950 standing or 1,100 seated. The hall descriptions give higher standing figures: 11,500 for East and West, 3,500 for South and 2,800 for North, with 1,300 for a banquet in the South Hall. Organizers should confirm which figure applies to their layout.
Catering
For weddings and private parties, the ballroom packages work on a bring-your-own-food basis, with a catering area provided. The center also states that it can arrange full-service catering for weddings, quinceañeras and corporate luncheons and that it works with local caterers. It is licensed to serve beer and wine, and drink packages can be added.
Getting there
The center sits on a 17-acre site at 3750 East Irvington Road, about a minute from Interstate 10 and nine minutes from Interstate 19. Downtown Tucson is about 15 minutes by car, and Tucson International Airport 10 to 15 minutes. More than 1,000 free parking spaces include accessible parking and room for RVs, trucks and trailers. Security staff are on site all year and can be increased for large events.
