Army CON 2020. SUCKS DONT TRUST #BTSXAZ! THEY ARE SCAMMERS AND STEALS MONEY FROM FANS!! It was horrible. I dont know where to start. Half of the things didn't work. Concert experience they mentioned sucked because of multiple buffering and poor audio. I paid 50 bucks for this. I can not support #btsxaz because they are ruining all names for other army. I've been to their previous events before THAT THEY HOSTED and it sucks so I should have expected it to suck here too. And now they are asking for donations for their freebies that I dont understand after they bragged how much money they are making from Army bts sponsers sketchy. They are rude and it's obvious that they are in this for themselves instead of the fans. read more

Definitely one of the better convention centers I've been too. It has a good layout where meeting rooms are easily organized in the middle with hallways surrounding them. Signs appears everywhere to help you where you're going. While keeping everything easy and simple, it's a pretty good construction as well. Doesn't feel outdated or worn yet. Totally through my friends and I off that the giant exhibition halls were in the basement and ran under the street linking the two buildings. I appreciated the good food options there. My favorite was the salad place. For only $12, you could get a pretty large salad that you custom make yourself. Tons of good options including shrimp and steak that do not cost extra. Great deal!! read more

45 minute wait for coffee! There were about 15 people ahead of me and they only had 1 person working at the Phoenix coffee Co. Starbucks lines even longer. Here for a conference with thousands of people...get coffee ahead somewhere else...​ read more

This is a fairly good convention center. It is relatively new looking. It is located right in the middle of downtown near hotels and food options. The food court is large. That being said it is inconvenient if you are on the main floor two levels up. There are some decent options for quick food, but it would be nice if there were at least a couple options near the show floor area. There were some food options inside the show area. These bring down the overall score. The line was tragically long and the options were severely limited. The long lines are likely a reflection of the food court being so far away. read more

I've seen more than a few convention centers and expo halls in my travels, and who knew the coolest one was in my own backyard? This is dorky - but I know you'll totally get me if you've ever trekked across countless useless square feet in heels, lugging countless brochures and promos you've been given; if you've trampled over mounds of used paper towels in a depressingly lit, dingy bathroom; if you've ever had to sit in a hard plastic chair for an hour+ and listen to a rumple-suited guy drone on and on about synergy and sales figures; if you've ever been subjected to ugly corporate art ... OK, I'll stop there - but I LOVED the Phoenix Convention Center! With a swell new renovation, its gorgeous in contemporary rust and sand and other deswet appropriate colors (god, I'm glad Arizona finally got away from the "sunset" color scheme of pink, purple, orange - blech!) and fancy tile entryway. It's clean, modern and has TONS of windows and open space. When you enter the West Building from Second St (the entrance by Starbucks), you're sort of swept up, up, up to the sky, and it really makes a statement (the entire entryway/first floor is open all the way to the top). The seminar rooms have all the hi-tech gadgets needed for presentations, and the AV/Tech guys were professional and prompt if there was a problem - and, might I add, some of the most well-dressed techies I've ever encountered. No band T-shirts, visible tattoos or bears* here, man, it was all long-sleeved button-down shirts and dress pants; impressive! My favorite part? Wicked-comfy chairs in the rooms. No hard plastic and metal legs, no cumbersome, heavy, office-gray uncomfortable torture devices. The chairs were super sleek - those mesh-back, rolling office-desk chairs you always see in design studios and architecture offices. By the way, did I mention the backs *recline*. I'm totally serious. I'm a super antsy chair sitter - I sit up, I slide down, I cross, re-cross, pull my legs up Indian-style, under me, I turn (doubly insulting to speakers if the chairs are squeaky)... I can never sit still in an office chair, but these bad boys made me feel like a grown up finally as I could sit quietly for a full hour. Bathrooms were incredibly nice - large-tiled floors that were actually clean, small-tiled sink backsplash in contemporary colors, soap AND paper towels in full supply AND the automatic water faucets ACTUALLY all worked! It's a convention center miracle! A full-length mirror for making sure your conference appropriate attire looks as nice as you thought it did at 5 this morning. Nice, floor to ceiling, all-glass (frosted) doors with the long bar, brushed steel handle (what can I say? I'm a sucker for a cool bathroom, just read any of my reviews) What else.. it's right off the light rail, of course. I found the entrance easily, no wandering around an entire city block looking for the right door. Up on the third floor, the windows provide a great view of the city streets - p.s. what's with the towering TMobile ad painted right on the Bank of America building?? Oh yes, super hi-tech looking TV screens outside each room that display in color the current and upcoming sessions - helpful, because it never fails that someone moves or changes the signs and you're left wondering if you're in the right place. Also, I liked that the convention center chose to work with a caterer who uses compostable plastic cups made from corn...say what?? And they have recycle cans alongside regular trash cans for all those empty water bottles. OK, the one thing this place does have in common with other convention centers is that it is FREEZING. Of course, that is to be expected no matter where you travel. **This is actually supposed to be "beards" but for the record there were no bears either read more

For a convention center, Phoenix Convention Center is pretty decent. The space is large, the amenities are clean and they have several food options at the cafeteria and now just catered options. They actually have restaurants who serve food. However, this is the reason the Phoenix Convention Center gets three not four stars. The parking for the convention center is $12. Normally, people already pay to get into the event and I think that if you pay to attend an event at the Phoenix Convention Center, parking is included. I'm not sure if other conventions center do it this way, but it'd be nice if they did! read more

Just kind of there with nothing special about this convention center. And the Phoenix downtown area is pretty boring and sparse except for the baseball stadium right next to it with some cool bars and restaurants. When there isn't a game, this area seems pretty dead. Bottom line: Ho hum. Baseball stadium nearby is great entertainment option but can be a pain with all the traffic if you are trying to get out of the convention center area in the evening. read more

This review is for the south building of the Phoenix Convention Center. I was there for a one day conference what I was also on the committee for. Overall the convention center could use some better signage. Most of the time you aren't sure which building you are at until you are at the dropoff lane directly in front of it looking at the main doors. I had to call two people and drive around and stop in front of two buildings before I found the south one. Granted, I could've looked ahead of time, but you businesses can't count on that. Once I got there, finding actual parking for the convention center was hard. I think I ended up in Chase Field's parking. The building is nice and clean but small. The size suited us well, but there was a lack of easy access to food other than the one cart. Would've been nice to have other offerings even if we weren't in a newer and bigger portion of the center. The staff was friendly from the few interactions I had and the rooms were decent sized. However, when the air was turned on, there was a buzzing sound in every room that was similar to a vacuum being ran. Had to deal with it unless you wanted to sweat. Wifi not being free is also a bummer. read more

I haven't been to many convention facilities, but the Phoenix Convention Center (formerly the Phoenix Civic Plaza, which was a dumb name, btw) really shines. Compared to the LA Convention Center, this place is outstanding. Over the past few weeks I have been to events, meetings and banquets in the South Ballroom and West Hall. The West Hall looks clean, modern, and is impressive with a gigantic atrium entrance on 2nd St. and seemingly endless escalators up to the third floor. Audio visual equipment here is top-notch and they spare no expense with the A/C - holy crap it was FREEZING! Signage for the restrooms could be more helpful as I found myself guessing where the loo was each time. I'm not sure who does the catering here, but I found the food to be above average, but not outstanding. Think ordinary salads (chicken cobb and a southwestern caesar), your typical rubber chicken banquet meals, a breakfast buffet of eggs, bacon, Starbucks coffee etc. For dessert we had some kind of cheesecake turnover sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar - yum. If you go in the near future - definitely check out the ongoing construction. The top floor of the West Hall boasts an impressive view of the North and East expansions where you can see all the cranes and construction going on and more detail than you can imagine. read more

This review is more about the ARIZONA'S ULTIMATE WOMAN'S EXPO on Oct 17th & 18th, which was held in the South Building of the Convention Center (the section that wasn't remodeled). Kudos for plenty of clean restrooms that can be found in the lobby and inside the show (FREE maxi pads available...just in case). This Woman's Expo didn't let the large crowds of anxious women in the Expo until 10:15am...thanks for the announcement or update! BAD! $10 bucks to get in (and $10 for parking). The show boosted that they had 500 Exhibitors, I didn't count, but I don't think there were that many...perhaps 1/2 of that. I think this Expo is different than the one that has been hosted by Channel 3 (AZ Family) since the 90's....which has moved to the Glendale Stadium a few years ago (and is now smaller than the past shows which were downtown). Just expect overpriced, average food at ANY Convention Center snack bar. --HELLO, $6.50 for a hot dog?!! You could get dozens of hot dogs at Costco for that! Bring a sandwich in your bag or grab a bite nearby at the AZ Center or one of the restaurants that may be open on the weekend. There were lots of beverage samples....why do these booths feel the need to add frickin' sweeteners to the tea or coffee samples? How can I decide if the new Starbucks coffee is any good when it's heavily laced with crappy liquid sweeteners? Why does the lady at the Natural Green Tea booth look at me like I'm an alien because I wanted to try their PLAIN green tea without some FAKE "natural" sugar that was added to it? overall, lots of free samples from many businesses...I guess I have enough free promo pens to last me for many years now. read more

Nice building with great spaces. The rooms were always comfortable to be in (in some center the AC is on blast!) and everything looked new. The bathrooms were nice, clean, and well kept, even during rush hours for our conference. the layout was good for a large building without being too confusing. The locationis close a few hotels and a shopping center, which has a few good food places. My notes of improvement would start with the wifi, which was a problem throughout our four day conference. Please work with your hosts to provide better wifi services. The second note of improvement were the doors I each room I went to were very loud when persons were leaving and entering. Maybe installing a quiet closer for the doors would be nice. I also did not like the food here, but hey, it's a convention center. Overall, a great convention center that is about to accondate large conferences. read more

We went for the Bernie Sanders rally and it was MASSIVE underground. I have been to the Convention Center for countless Home & Garden and Bridal Shows. But this was the first time I had been in the "basement". The Convention Center put the rally on incredibly well and was VERY organized. Parking was an issue when the center double booked a few parking structures with the Diamondbacks stadium. The only thing I wish the Center had was more seating or stool rentals (maybe for ID's or something). I always am cranky at Home and Bridal shows due to so much walking and no opportunities for seating that are not on the floor, plus the 4 Costco's sized basement has ZERO seating. So MAYYYYYBE take a look at that. OH!!! Maybe less crappy foods offered. Maybe bring a vendor that has more than pig-anus hot dogs. K thanks. Otherwise, it's decent. read more

I love this convention center! This was the third year I was here for Phoenix Comic Con. It is clean, the staff are friendly, and the location is very convenient right off the light rail stop 3rd Street/Washington or 3rd Street/Jefferson depending on the direction you're coming from. I know people complain that if they drive in they have to pay for parking but I also know that while one nearby garage charges $12 another close by charges $6- so if you really want to save some money just drive around the block. Both those garages are a very quick walk away. read more

The Phoenix Convention Center offers a great meeting and venue space - it is large and your meeting possibilities are endless here. It was also very convenient for us because we stayed at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown (just a 5-minute walk up the street). The waitstaff themselves were very friendly, kind and helpful to us. They assisted us with our requests and helped us to navigate the space. Unfortunately, this cannot be said about the Banquet Manager. He wasn't the easiest to work with: speaking to us in condescending tones, telling us stuff that wasn't true (i.e., buffet was already replenished, but no food was there) and deny any wrongdoing on his team's parts. Our meeting was still successful and the space was great, but I definitely feel that some personnel improvements can be made. read more

Tips: Know which building you are going to (there are 3) Prepare to pay and spend time for parking if you are going to be there beyond 2 hours(first time I parked at Chase after leaving the Hyatt valet spending $12, the next day I parked for free but was 1 mile away) There are plenty of staff who can direct you where to go...as long as you know the building and room number Came here for Rock and Roll and the Western Regional Dental Convention. Well, I loved the dental convention! (I hate being forced into pre-race packet pick ups). I came back the next day for the Academy of General Dentistry regional meeting and was shocked it was $200 to rent a small room for a meeting and only on site food is allowed where cans of soda go for $4 a pop! read more

I visited the convention center as part of the expo for the Rock N Roll marathon/half marathon and this review sprawls across both of these entities. As for the convention center, it's certainly in the upper half of "Convention Centers I have known". The rooms are spacious and it's easy to get up and down floors. The design is nice with easy access to the stairs and escalators and they have the exit-only designs that are conveniently located. It may not be the greatest endorsement when I say that the convention center can be quickly exited, but I appreciated these benefits. The Rock N Roll expo was also reasonable: they have a similar set up at all their races and the number and scope of vendors is impressive. Now, I've always considered these things the equivalent of runners' porn and typically try to get out as quickly as possible. It only takes a momentary distraction to have you stop in front of a stall and decide that you must have the new Saucony socks ("But these are ULTRA wicking!") I've taken the Jason Bourne in an embassy in Switzerland approach: when you walk in the entrance, you put your earpiece in, rip the diagram of the building off the wall, analyze the quickest route between the points you need to go and then march. This typically works fairly well and you can navigate through the whole affair in a few minutes. Not too shabby. A friend of mine has a different philosophy. He claims that you want to take the more circuitous route through the hall since people tend to congregate in the center of the place. He probably has a point (although I'll never admit that to him): there's actually a hierarchy of vendors and the less desirable ones tend to get stuck along the back walls. When you navigate this path, the crowds are sparser and the vendors are listlessly standing next to stalls of "Used Running Socks" and "Backwash Gatorade". I tried this manuever at the Phoenix expo and found that I could exit the building a little faster. An idea to try the next time you're at one of these things...... read more

Came here for the 2018 Air Medical Transport Conference. First time to this conference. Excellent speakers, 7 helicopters in the great hall, friendly informative vendors. It was a wonderful conference in a great location. Food and staff were awesome. Easy access to all classes. Parking onsite. Superior quality Education forum . Took the train in from Mesa and was dropped off 1 block from convention center. So convenient. Beautiful city!!!! Thanks AMTC. read more

I have not been to a business-related convention or event here, nor have I managed a booth during a business-related convention or event here, so I can't directly comment on the experience of attending or organizing a conference here. However, having handled some of the tradeshow logistics at my last job, I can tell you that the parking, setup, staffing, and overall accessibility of a conference venue can really make or break the day of anyone who is managing or staffing a booth, and it seems that the layout of the Phoenix Convention Center, as well as the fairly low-key vibe of this part of downtown, would make this a decent venue for business and industry events. My husband and I stopped in here last Friday to walk around the Arizona Home and Building Expo (summary: some cool design ideas; lots of over-priced offers and garage cabinet makers; better to go on Kudzu.com, Angie's List, and online forums such as Yelp and get people's actual feedback as to contractors and vendors they've used). The architecture is unique and compelling, the grounds seem clean and well-maintained, and the inside is relatively easy to navigate. The staff we encountered was also friendly and helpful. Absent hands-on experience with participating in a conference here for business-related reasons, I would have to say this place seems like a great conference/convention venue. read more

I expected more from the staff of the convention center. As a booth participant, I found a few flaws in the attitudes of security, and the janitorial staff. . The purpose of participating in a show is to conduct business. Talking to as may people as you can. Security needs to stop policing the vendors and closely watch the visitors, my carry all cart was nearly stolen twice by a homeless man , don't know how he got in. Our Booth was near a huge recycle bin and several times staff would come and remove trash knocking down display material from the booth behind us into our space, aggravating at best. My final comment is on up keep of the commode seats in the handicap restrooms. In five of the six restrooms I visited the toilet seats were loose, meaning they shift and move off the edge when you use them. I have a bad hip, in one area the seat slipped off the edge causing me immediate pain and discomfort. Regular maintenance is not done and should be. I see a lawsuit coming, if they don't fix this issue. read more

Went to a conference here. Nice place. Spacious, clean, staffed. Good box lunches. Convenient area and nice surroundings. read more

The new North Building opened over the weekend and I have to say I really like it. My partner and I were at the South Building for the cat show and took a quick tour of the North Building and were really impressed! Let's hope this helps bring more convention business to The Valley of the Sun. read more

I often work at this venue, parking for event staff is $4 and can be a bit of a walk. It's spacious and lots of places to wonder around in between sessions. Power stations to charge your handheld devices and clean bathrooms, the food joints are a bit pricey so I would venture to one of the many surround eateries. read more

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This is an expansive convention center. Props for LOTS of bathrooms. And the staff are great at cleaning them very frequently. They also have a food court within the convention center, which is a nice bonus for those of us who attend conferences here where food is not provided. Like other convention centers, though, it is way too cold inside. Brrrr. The friendly and attentive staff make this convention center a step above the rest. read more

I can speak to the South Building only -- as our convention was only in this building. Our convention was 3 days long and (in addition to the talks) it included coffee, morning snacks, lunch, and afternoon snacks. I was impressed with how seamlessly -- and almost invisibly -- the staff kept the bathrooms tidy and well stocked, the food magically appeared and disappeared, and the food quality was surprisingly good. There were even vegetarian and vegan dishes on every buffet table -- and they were actually good! There are many areas that are easy to overlook when everything runs smoothly, so I just wanted to say that I appreciate these things: The sound systems and projectors/screens were absolutely adequate for my needs as a participant. The tables and chairs were sufficiently comfortable. There was plenty of space to gather and be in conversation without being in the way or too far out of the loop. Staff was polite, friendly, and really good at getting things done. I am generally complaining about too much A/C in a building -- but overall, I only felt truly over-air conditioned a couple of times. A couple of bonus items: I'm not sure if these are part of the normal experience here or if they were exceptions made for our group, but there was a dedicated gender neutral restroom and a lactation room. I'm so glad to see these things! You did a great job of supporting the event! read more

Parking is alright, but just seems weird getting from down there to upstairs. Layout is decent, classrooms weren't far or too spread apart. Restrooms were plentiful, but most of them were only a few stalls. And hardly any family/handicap/standalone restrooms (I think I only saw one the entire time). Food (catering) was great - better variety than I've seen at other CC's, although that may be a cost issue (more sponsorship maybe this year)? Food Court on the other hand needs major work - hardly anything open, and not enough variety. read more

Totally enjoyed Comicon but there was major trouble with ticketing on Friday. When it is almost 115 degrees outside, it's hard to stand on line outside. I understand the it was corrected on Saturday, but Friday was brutal. Loved the costumes, celebrity signings, and the whole vibe. Lots to see. The Food court was super crowded. They have to figure out how to handle this type of crowd. Perhaps having one priced lunch boxes might be a good idea. All is all, I would go again! read more

Went here for Comic-Con. Wow, lots of people. We had a great time though and the Phoenix Convention Center was a great location. The security was a little lax though. That was scary. We got into the building every day without going through security b'c we went up the elevator from the garage. The first time we had no idea and it took us a while to figure out where registration was. Total glitch in their security surveillance though for us to be able to get in like that! Nonetheless, we had a great time. It was nice and cool in the building which is always a plus in Phoenix! read more

I am so tired if having to come to this place and they have vending machines that never work and they won't let you bring food and drink in so you pretty much can't eat or drink unless you walk in the 100 degree weather somewhere. I have been here several times for dance conventions and it is getting ridiculous! read more

This is like the Hotel California for me. You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave. I'll have all day seminars here when I'm here, seemingly every other year, and they have on site food (mega expensive, because well, where the hell else are you gonna go on short time and close by). But nice and air conditioned. It's Phoenix. That's crucial. read more

Bettet than Chicago's beag McCormick place and Donald Stephens. A great layout for less traffic as I went to Phoenix Fan Fusion and it was awesome! They utilize their many floors wiselyy read more

I attended the Ultimate Women's Expo yesterday at this large convention, as well as numerous other types of event i.e. scrapbooking, wedding, disability, dog show. I have also attended previous Women's Expo events, mainly because either it's a free admission with a coupon or a meet & greet with the keynote speakers: actress Melissa Gilbert of "The Little House on the Prairie" who was promoting her books at the Barnes & Noble booth (spring '14), and celebrity chef Sandra Lee of Food Network who was promoting her cocktails line at her own booth (yesterday). I will lean more towards reviewing the Expo since it's the most recent. I enjoyed looking around and checking out the numerous vendors, and the convention did a fine job fitting them in and allowing the public extra room to walk around and eat at- and, keeping it clean and litter-free. The restrooms were also clean and easy to find, both inside the arena and lobby. I think most of the crowd is because attendees wanted the free makeovers and samples (which likely explains the long line before admission). The booths were selling or demonstrating their wares geared towards women. However, there were some vendors that had nothing to do with women theme. Since this type of event is often crowded, I wish there would be a no-stroller policy i.e. the scrapbooking expo I attended did have that and boy, was it so much easier to move around. Parents, sorry, but please leave your kids at home and get a babysitter. My patience has run thin as it's rude to bump your strollers at my heel (that hurts, damn it) with no apology- these events are no place for kids (they're either tired, grouchy, being jostled, asleep in their strollers, or even sick and don't care for these type of events). This was supposed to be sort of a getaway to be pampered. I liked the ABC cake decorating store booth- they gave away samples as a thanks for watching their demos. My favorite was actually the fashion show, of course! I didn't eat at the concession area as they charged way too much- $10 for a small 'gourmet' tuna casserole plate? $8 for a small sandwich. $4 for bottled water. I'm sure they probably taste good- I even noticed the staff thoughtfully wearing gloves to prepare food. I brought my own bottled water (you can refill at the water fountain) and ate well at home before I showed up to tide me over- it worked ;) Convention security was present to guide you around if you needed directions or got lost. The overall ambiance was decent, just sometimes the air conditioner got colder than expected (esp. where the fashion show / keynote speaking was at) so if you get cold easily, bring your sweater. I like it cold though and appreciate it since the crowd can definitely heat up a room this big that fast ;) I appreciate that the attendees and convention staff were polite and got along and kept within the peace, which made the event that much more memorable. I look forward to attending various events at the convention in the future and appreciate supporting downtown Phoenix activities. See you all there again! read more

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There are two huge building that comprise the Phoenix Convention Center. The centers are modern and clean on the inside and out. Great events here all the time and there's enough space to let the client be creative. Example, when the WWE had their Fan Access event a few years ago, they had a ring, stage and many other attractions the fans enjoyed. read more

Phoenix Convention Center - With former WWF Wrestler Val Venis lol. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

The convention center is a great facility but neither the restaurants inside or outside are equipped to handle the amount of people attending events here. I understand the philosophy of gouging food prices, but at least staff the businesses with the proper number of people and ensure they are trained and supervised. Phoenix will never be able to draw big business with this level of service and accommodations. I'm literally standing in line right now watching people order salad but there's no salad dressing. This place is a joke. read more

We had a conference here and I am SO impressed with every aspect of this place. The staff, facilities, and technology of this place far exceeded my expectations! Way to go!!! I hope to return here every few years as the conference rotates through locations! read more

Great space. Came to pick up my bib for the R&R Marathon. Stopped at Tortilla's Mexican Food inside and it was delicious! Chicken taco plate was pretty good! read more

Beautiful Venue! Easy to navigate and friendly staff. Open and airy and sunny!

It is always well taken care of and clean.

Very large. Went here for the Super Bowl and surprisingly it was kept very clean! Nice die toon from one floor to another through all of the endless escalators. The outside is also very appeasing with its looks. read more

Pretty nice place. Conveniently located.

OK so this is coming as a two part view of this. 1. Convention goer. I have been to multiple conventions and events at the PCC. Phoenix Comicon, Amazing Comic Con, and a bridal show. Every time it has always been easy to move around, clearly marked (for the venue's part), and easy to park at. They lose one star because parking costs are atrocious. 2. Convention organizer. I am on staff at Phoenix Comic Con. I don't have anything to do with the negotiations of the venue (I will put that out there IMMEDIATELY). However, from what I am exposed to regarding our agreement and having our meetings there, as well as what they have been able to provide for us I have been extremely pleased. It is always clean, the water is stocked, the bathrooms are well taken care of, and they seem to be accommodating. If you are going to an event here, you should enjoy the venue. If you are hosting and event and have it within your budget I would see what the Phoenix Convention Center can do for you. read more