Jackson: Convention Facilities

In November 2004, voters decided that Jackson would no longer be one of the only capital cities without a convention center. The Capital City Convention Center will have a $40 million economic impact on the city by creating 700 new jobs and attracting convention delegates, thereby boosting tourism and hospitality revenue. This center will sit adjacent to, and connect with, the new Mississippi TelCom Center, a 74,000 square foot conference center that is scheduled to open in 2005. Existing facilities include the Mississippi Fair Grounds Complex, which is comprised of the Mississippi Coliseum, an all-season arena with 6,500 permanent seats and up to 3,500 additional temporary seats, and the Mississippi Trade Mart, which offers 66,000 square feet of exhibit space and is ideal for professional conventions and exhibits of automobiles and other types of equipment. Thalia Mara Hall, adjacent to the Mississippi Arts Center downtown, offers 8,000 square feet of exhibit space and seating space for 2,500 people. Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium has 60,000 seats, while Smith-Wills Stadium, near the Agriculture and Forestry Museum, can seat 5,200 people. A number of area hotels offer meeting facilities, including the Hilton Jackson & Convention Center with seating up to 1,200 and meeting space of 8,100 square feet, and the Marriott of Jackson with 19 meeting rooms totaling 35,000 square feet.

Convention Information: Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau, 921 N. President St., Jackson, MS 39202; telephone (601)960-1891; toll-free 800-354-7695; fax (601)960-1827; email info@visitjackson.com