Cleveland Convention Center Upgrades with $51M Expansion

The Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland is an ideal venue for everything from small executive meetings to bustling industry trade shows. This crucial Downtown Cleveland linchpin has leveled up once again thanks to a $51 million renovation and expansion.

What’s new?

As part of a remarkable $51 million update completed in July 2024, the 25% expanded footprint of the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland now offers a bigger second ballroom, an outdoor terrace, upgraded restrooms and new escalators for easier event flow.

Now spanning nearly 519,000 square feet, the space seamlessly accommodates large-scale events or multiple groups at once with meeting and pre-function spaces accounting for 293,840 square feet. The impressive 104,000-square-foot expansion encompasses state-of-the-art technology, 50 spacious meeting rooms and new pre-function spaces.

Visitors can meet in style with four luxury suites featuring big-screen TVs and pool tables or host a grand event in the redesigned 20,000-square-foot Atrium Ballroom (which can be divided into six rooms). Meanwhile, the new 11,000-square-foot rooftop terrace is ideal for receptions, offering panoramic city views. Pairing these spectacular amenities with the many nearby restaurants, theaters, sports venues and nearly 5,000 hotel rooms make it a truly exceptional event destination.

“Since the center opened in 2013, it has had a measurable economic impact of $1 billion — representing money brought into Cleveland from outsiders,” says Destination Cleveland President and CEO David Gilbert. “This investment indicates that Cleveland is serious about growing its tourism industry and enhancing the community’s popularity and reputation as a host of meetings and conventions.”

Connecting to Cleveland

Want more good news? The Convention Center is intimately linked to a bevy of surrounding hotels and attractions:

• The Hilton Cleveland Downtown - Seamlessly connected to the convention center is a 600-room upscale hotel that boasts spectacular views of Lake Erie. What’s more, the centrally located destination is within a five-minute drive of Progressive Field – the home of the Cleveland Guardians and other attractions.
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - A trip to Cleveland is not complete without a tour of the world-famous rock hall. Strolling through the museum will give conventioneers a sweet earful of musical history, not to mention one of the most impressive collections of memorabilia ever assembled.
• Rocket Arena - Home of the Cleveland Monsters and Cleveland Cavaliers, folks visiting the North Coast during our chillier months can enjoy blazing sports action. In the core of Cleveland’s Gateway District, the arena also hosts rockin’ concerts and family-friendly shows. Guests hankering for a bite or a beer have their choice of close-by locales – Southern Tier Brewing Company, Flannery’s Pub, RED the Steakhouse and happening sushi hangout GOMA by Dante.
• The Great Lakes Science Center - A demanding week of meetings doesn't mean your trip to Cleveland has to be entirely without fun. Located less than a mile from the convention site, the Science Center offers brain-busting exhibits on medicine, space exploration and Cleveland’s maritime history, as well as the Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater, the world’s first six-story, laser-illuminated movie projection system.

Taking it all in

Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland is a dazzling centerpiece that links guests to our lively food, drink and nightlife scene. Dozens of new and renovated hotels support the burgeoning facility, with our big-city amenities and Midwestern approachability rating to give your conference that extra boost. Over one million square feet of connected event space is just waiting for your next big-ticket conference, meeting or premier industry gathering.