Austin Convention Center

{{Short description|Multi-purpose convention center}}

{{Infobox convention center

| name = Neal Kocurek Memorial Austin Convention Center

| image = File:AustinConventionCenter.jpg

| image_caption = Convention center seen from northwest corner

| address = 500 E Cesar Chavez St
Austin, TX 78701

| mapframe-zoom = 15

| location =

| coordinates =

| owner = City of Austin

| operator =

| built = 1989–1992

| opened = July 4, 1992{{cite news|title=Inside the Austin Convention Center|date=June 28, 1992|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|location=Austin, Texas|publisher=Cox Enterprises|page=C1}}

| inaugurated =

| renovated = 1999, 2002, 2010, 2011

| expanded =

| closed =

| demolished =

| construction_cost= $35 million

| former_names = Austin Convention Center (1992–2004){{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2004/11/29/daily26.html |title=Austin Convention Center renamed for civic leader |author= |date=December 4, 2004 |website=Austin Business Journal |publisher=American City Business Journals |access-date=October 29, 2013}}

| classroom_cap = 24 (Austin Suite)

| banquets =

| theatre = 5,285 (Sport Hall)
3,940 (Grand Ballroom)

| total_space = {{convert|881400|sqft|m2|lk=in|sigfig=2}}

| exhibit = {{convert|247052|sqft|m2|lk=in|sigfig=2}}

| breakout = {{convert|58152|sqft|m2|lk=in|sigfig=2}}

| ballroom = {{convert|63928|sqft|m2|lk=in|sigfig=2}}

| parking = 2 garages, 1685 total spaces

| bicycle = 124 bike racks{{cite web | url=http://www.austinconventioncenter.com/directions/directions.htm | title=Directions, Maps, and Parking | publisher=Austin Convention Center | access-date=May 6, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506094102/http://www.austinconventioncenter.com/directions/directions.htm | archive-date=May 6, 2014 | url-status=dead }}

| website = {{URL|http://www.austinconventioncenter.com/default.htm|Venue Website}}

}}

The Neal Kocurek Memorial Austin Convention Center is a multi-purpose convention center located in Austin, Texas. The building is the home of the Texas Rollergirls, and was also home to the Austin Toros basketball team, until their move to the Cedar Park Center in nearby Cedar Park in 2010. The facility is also the primary "home base" for the internationally renowned South by Southwest technology, music and film conference/festival, held annually in March.

In 2025, the existing Austin Convention Center is scheduled for demolition to facilitate the construction of a significantly larger replacement facility. This $1.6 billion project aims to double the convention center's size, with an anticipated completion and opening in 2029. Funding for the project will be derived from the convention center's existing revenue streams and a 2% increase in the hotel occupancy tax approved in 2019.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-26 |title=Here's what the new Austin Convention Center could look like |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/heres-austin-convention-center-could-123112673.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=McKim |first=Dylan |date=May 23, 2023 |title=Austin Convention Center to undergo 4 years of construction in expansion project |url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-convention-center-to-undergo-4-years-of-construction-in-expansion-project/ |access-date=March 17, 2025 |website=kxan.com}}

Just prior to its demolition Austin's convention center was the 60th largest in the United States despite Austin, Texas being the eleventh largest city in the United States.https://austinfreepress.org/dollars-and-sense/ The current convention center's capacity limitations have hindered Austin's ability to host major events, such as the Democratic National Convention,{{Cite web |date=2014-02-26 |title=Sorry Austin Dems: City Won't Host 2016 Democratic Convention |url=https://www.kut.org/politics/2014-02-26/sorry-austin-dems-city-wont-host-2016-democratic-convention |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=KUT Radio, Austin's NPR Station |language=en}} due to the absence of suitably sized venues. While the expansion is intended to address this issue, it remains uncertain whether the new facility will ultimately provide sufficient capacity for events of that scale.

Construction and operating costs over three decades are expected to be $5.6 billion, while the revenue directly generated by the new convention center, over that same time period, is expected to be $1.6 billion. Assuming those estimates are correct then that means that 80% of the hotel occupancy tax will be tied up through 2058.