Pros and Cons of Booking a Downtown Convention Center in Kansas City

If you’re planning a convention, tradeshow, or any other kind of event, your first thought may be to find a downtown convention center in Kansas City. You may think, “what’s better than being in the heart of all the hustle and bustle?”

What many people don’t realize, however, is that a convention center downtown may not give you all the benefits you need to run a smooth event. At Overland Park Convention Center, we believe that to have the best event possible, it’s always important to do in-depth research.

Before booking a downtown convention center, take time to go through the pros and cons to be sure about your decision.

 

Pros of booking a downtown convention center

Location

The biggest pro people think about is location. Downtown is the the center of the city, so it may be more accessible for attendees.

Things to do

There are a lot of shops, restaurants, and other things to do downtown, which make people lean toward a downtown convention center in Kansas City.

But keep in mind that life in Kansas City doesn’t just surround downtown. There are a variety of restaurants and fun things to do all throughout the metro area, including Johnson County!

Has a good nightlife

Depending on the kind of event you’re hosting, a nightlife scene may be important. Places like the Power & Light District are filled with bars and restaurants for people to visit after your event.

 

Cons of booking a downtown convention center

Parking

No one wants to attend an event where it’s impossible (or expensive) to find parking. With a convention center downtown, you won’t find free parking, which can be a bummer for attendees.

If you really want to “wow” people going to your event, OPCC offers free parking to take away a lot of stress.

Higher catering rates

It goes without saying that people charge more for catering downtown, plus it may be hard to find a place that accommodates large orders.

Instead of dealing with that hassle, our award-winning chefs and catering team at OPCC can build a customized menu to turn your event into a foodie’s dream.

Less experience 

If you’ve been living in Kansas City, you know that it hasn’t always been as active as it is now. There was a point when it was more or less a place for professionals who were only there from 9 to 5. That means a downtown convention center will be fairly new too. As a result, the staff won’t be as in-the-know, and they may not be as efficient.

 

Not only does OPPC have years of experience in the industry, we’ve also won tons of awards along the way. In fact, we were recently named one of the nation’s top 20 “Centers of Excellence’” by EXHIBITOR Magazine and a “Best Convention Center in North America” by Business View Magazine.

 

Look beyond downtown and host your event at OPCC.

On the surface, a downtown convention in Kansas City may sound like the way to go, but if you really want to have the best event possible, host your event at Overland Park Convention Center.

Located just off of 435 highway, we’re just a quick drive away from a variety of restaurants, hotels, and things to do for all ages.

In summary, here are the perks you get when you choose OPCC:

  • Highly personalized service from start to finish
  • Beautiful, customizable event spaces
  • Amazing food prepared by world-renowned chefs
  • Nearby lodging and transportation
  • Tons of local activities and entertainment
  • Attached accommodations
  • Customized rates
  • & more

 

Get started today.

Overland Park Convention Center is anything but conventional. Contact us today to get to know our team, our space, and the incredible atmosphere of support and success we cultivate at the best convention center in Kansas City and all of North America.

You can easily start by contacting our sales team at 913.339.3000, or you can get a quote by using our event estimate tool or submitting an RFP.

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