
The Wall Street Journal recently ranked 30 of the largest convention centers in the United States, with several Southern venues making the Top 10.
The centers were weighed on the quality of the exhibition space, as well as the “vibrancy and affordability” of the surrounding city.
Topping the list was the Las Vegas Convention Center, which achieved a score of 80.06 out of 100, followed by Chicago’s McCormick Place (76.17) and The Venetian Convention & Expo Center in Las Vegas (72.13).
The top Southern convention center was Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, which came fifth on the list with a score of 58.97, followed by Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center with 52.58.
Rounding out the Top 10 on the list is Dallas’ Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center (46.50).
Other Southern convention centers on the list, included:
#12 – Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. (44.72)
#13 – Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. (44.50)
#14 – George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas (42.51)
#18 – Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center (39.35)
#22 – America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo. (37.84)
#23 – Henry B. Gonzalez in San Antonio, Texas (36.80)
#26 – Miami Beach Convention Center (30.15)
#29 – NRG Center in Houston, Texas (3.25)
The full list ranked convention centers on factors such as airport proximity, the quality of nearby hotels, the availability and cost of food, nearby entertainment, and weather.