Square feet & more: update on Indiana's major conventions centers.

• Author: Held, Shari
• Position: MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS

PLANNING A CORPORATE meeting or convention has never been easier. Numerous public facilities around the state offer flexible meeting space galore. Most have onsite A/V equipment, high-speed Internet access, full-service catering and dedicated event coordinators.

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne

The Coliseum's 108,000-square-foot Exposition Center provides seating for up to 7,500 and can be combined with adjacent areas for a total of 175,000 square feet. Its recently remodeled arena can accommodate nearly 13,000, and the facility has other numerous meeting/banquet rooms that can accommodate meetings from 25 to 5,000.

"One of the main strengths of the coliseum complex is its size and the ability to host 15 major events at the same time," says Randy Brown, general manager. "With nearly 1 million square feet under one roof, we are the second-largest public assembly complex in the state of Indiana."

4000 Parnell Ave.

Fort Wayne, IN 46805

260/482-9502

Bloomington Convention Center, Bloomington

Housed in a former auto dealership, once known as "Ford Corner," the Bloomington Convention Center boasts 22,000 square feet of functional meeting space. Its 11 meeting rooms include free wireless Internet and phone services, and they can be configured in a variety of ways. Additional services include an information and message center and coat-check rooms on each floor. The facility can accommodate banquets for up to 800 and trade shows for 1,000, and is ideal for meetings or conferences of 300 people or less.

The center is connected to the 117-room Courtyard by Marriott via a climate-controlled walkway and is within walking distance of eclectic downtown Bloomington.

302 S. College Ave.

Bloomington, IN 47403

812/336-3681

bloomingtonconvention.com

Century Center Convention & Cultural Complex, South Bend

The 30-foot glass window in the Great Hall of the Century Center Convention & Cultural Complex offers a spectacular view of East Race Waterway rapids, as does its White Water Ballroom. Located on an 11-acre riverfront park, the facility can accommodate large trade shows to smaller meetings.

According to David Hicks, interim marketing director, the facility is host to 700 events and 200,000 visitors annually. "The center's strengths are in its flexibility, event-planning and coordination expertise and in-house media services," says Hicks.

The center's 75,000 square feet of meeting and convention space includes three exhibit halls (one with 25,000 square feet of unobstructed space), 18 lower-level suites that can be configured in a variety of ways and two theaters that can seat 166 and 700.

The facility offers Wi-Fi connections, accommodates parking for 400 and...