| Los Angeles Convention Center | |
| Address: | Los Angeles, California 90015 |
| Coordinates: | 34.0397°N -118.2703°W |
| Operator: | Anschutz Entertainment Group ASM Global |
| Built: | 1971 |
| Expanded: | 1981, 1993, 1997 |
| Theatre: | 15,000 [1] 22,870 [2] |
| Total Space: | 720000square feet |
| Parking: | 5,600 spaces[3] |
| Bicycle: | Yes |
| Publictransit: | Pico |
The Los Angeles Convention Center is a convention center in the southwest section of the Downtown Los Angeles, California, United States. It hosts multiple annual conventions and has often been used as a filming location in TV shows and movies.
The convention center, designed by architect Charles Luckman, opened in 1971 and expanded in 1981, 1993 and 1997.[4] It was originally built as a rectangular building, between Pico Boulevard and 11th Street (now Chick Hearn Ct.) on Figueroa Street. The northeast portion of the center was demolished in 1997 to make way for the Staples Center. The Convention Center Annex of green glass and white steel frames, mainly on the south side of Pico, was designed by architect James Ingo Freed.[5]
The area in front of the convention center is known as the Gilbert Lindsay Plaza, named for the late councilman who represented the Downtown area of Los Angeles for several years. A 10feet-high monument honoring "The Emperor of the Great 9th District" was unveiled in 1995.[6] The drive between Figueroa Street and the convention center building is also named after Councilman Lindsay.
On March 1, 1983, a tornado caused damages to the roof and upper-level panels. The building was repaired and new convention center lettering signs were installed at a total cost of $3 million.[7]
On September 15, 2008, the convention center became the first in the U.S. and first Los Angeles City building of its age and size in the U.S. to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified for Existing Buildings from the United States Green Building Council.
In 2013, the Los Angeles City Council voted to let Anschutz Entertainment Group manage the convention center.[8]
The convention center hosts annual events such as the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Abilities Expo, and the Anime Expo.
During the week leading up to the annual Grammy Awards, the convention center typically hosts several Grammy week events. Since 2005, the convention center has hosted the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute, which takes place two days prior to the Grammy Awards.[9]
It also hosted the pre-telecast portion of the Grammy Awards (preceding the main telecast at the Crypto.com Arena) until 2013, when the pre-telecast was moved to the Nokia Theatre (now the Microsoft Theater).[10]
The 2021 awards were held in and around the convention center, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]
Following the annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, the convention center hosts the Governors Ball, one of the major Emmy after-parties.[12]
The Los Angeles Sparks played 11 of their 16 home games during the 2021 WNBA season at the convention center due to scheduling conflicts at their main home venue, the Staples Center, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic's delays in other league schedules.[13] The convention center was configured with limited seating and drew an average of 1,144 spectators per game.[14]
The convention center will host five sports during the 2028 Summer Olympics. It will host Women's basketball preliminary games, Fencing, Taekwondo, Table Tennis and . It will be a part of the Live Site Olympic Zone down Figueroa St.[15] Boxing was originally included in the plans, however the IOC decided to drop the sport from the Olympic sport program. [16]
The convention center is one of the largest convention centers in the United States with over 720000square feet of exhibition space, 147000square feet of meeting space, 19.6e6sqft of parking, and a 299-seat theater.[17]
The lobby floors in the north half of the building feature two large 140000square feet multicolor maps of inlaid terrazzo. The project was installed by artist Alexis Smith in 1993. A map of the world centered on the Pacific Rim covers the entire floor of the main lobby, while a map of the constellations around the north celestial pole covers the floor of the upstairs lobby.
In 2010, the Anschutz Entertainment Group and businessman Casey Wasserman proposed construction of Farmers Field, a US$1 billion combination football stadium and convention center, meant to attract the return of a National Football League (NFL) team to the Los Angeles area.[19] The development proposal was abandoned in March 2015 as plans for SoFi Stadium and a later rejected NFL stadium proposal in Carson started to get off the ground.
A new proposal was developed in 2015, approved by city hall and a design team was chosen. A new convention hall, called "LACOEX", would be built, with a connection to the south hall.[20]