Yakima Convention Center Now One Of Biggest In The State

The Yakima Convention Center is critical to the economic success of Yakima.  It is home to conventions, expositions, service club weekly meetings and more.  Tourists, attendees and local organizations, dances, celebration and events bring millions of dollars into our area because of what happens at the convention center.  She is a work horse by any measure but now the old girl is getting a face lift!

In fact, the overhaul has been quietly taking place throughout COVID silenced 2020.  The center has grown by 26% to just under 90-thousand square feet and you can do a lot of square dancing in 90,000 square feet!

The grand ballroom is now more grand than ever. An additional 68-hundred square feet means up to two thousand people can be seated for a banquet!  I'd like to thanks the Academy...but seriously, that's huge!

In addition to useable space the layout also allows for better social distancing in entering and exiting.  The entrance they say is stunning with a spacious lobby, spectacular tiled wall and sky light/  I say "they say" because I haven't seen it yet myself. John Cooper, is the CEO of Yakima Tourism who says the facility is just a few weeks away from its grand reopening,

Cooper says a new state-of-the-art Audio/Video system features giant screens for what they say, is an exceptional meeting experience.

From a competitive point of view, only Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma have larger facilities which means easier recruiting and more amenities for groups looking to meet in Central Washington.

Cooper appeared on the KIT Morning News to tell us all about the update facility.