Fort Wayne offers meeting planners high-quality site choices. A major facility is the Grand Wayne Center, which is undergoing a $39 million renovation and expansion that is scheduled for completion in mid-2005. This two-year construction project has more than doubled the total size of the center, doubled the amount of ballrooms, doubled the size of the main hall, and tripled the number of meeting rooms. The new 225,000 square-foot facility features a 48,480 square-foot Convention Hall and a 9,955 square-foot Anthony Wayne Ballroom to accommodate conventions, expos, trade shows, banquets, performances, and large corporate meetings and events; and a 6,000 square-foot Calhoun Ballroom, a 1,680 square foot Gallery, and meeting room space totaling 7,684 square feet, for meetings, banquets, luncheons, and seminars.
The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and Exposition Center, a city landmark, provides versatile facilities for trade shows, concerts, sporting events, stage shows, ice shows, the circus, meetings, and conventions. The facility is a memorial to the armed forces who died in World Wars I and II, and the Korean War. The arena, which recently raised its roof, increasing its seating capacity from 10,000 to 12,500, is ideal for spectator events; the Expo Center provides 108,000 square feet of display area, and has meeting rooms accommodating 250 individuals, plus the Appleseed Room—designed to hold banquets, receptions, and meetings—accommodating up to 540. With more than 4,500 hotel rooms, Fort Wayne has accommodations to suit both large and small group needs.
Convention Information: Fort Wayne/Allen County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1021 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802; telephone (800)767-7752; fax (260)424-3914; email visitorinfo@visitfortwayne.com