The Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) and the City of Anaheim hosted a groundbreaking event on Tuesday, April 21 at 11 a.m. Officials from the City of Anaheim, construction partners, ACC and Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau (AOCVCB) spoke on the local economic impact of the convention center in Anaheim. Other topics covered during the event included:

·       Seventh expansion to the LEED-certified Anaheim Convention Center, adding an additional 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting space to the building, solidifying its spot as the largest convention center on the west coast.

·       The new building will be two levels and include 200,000 sq. ft. of meeting/exhibit column-free space; a 10,000 sq. ft. balcony; 25 ft. ceilings; 1350 parking spaces; an impressive new main entrance on Katella Avenue; a climate-controlled pedestrian bridge connecting to the existing facility; new loading docks and an improved vehicular entrance.

The expansion will allow the City of Anaheim, ACC and AOCVCB to retain conventions that have grown in popularity each year, as well as provide space to attract new conventions and events. 

More than 10 newly added groups have already booked the space, equaling 18 total groups including: Keller Williams, American Heart Association, and American Wind Energy Association, among others.

Located in the heart of the Anaheim Resort District, the Anaheim Convention Center is an important enterprise operation the City relies upon to support the General Fund. The Anaheim Resort District provides approximately 50 percent of the General Fund tax revenues, which in turn provides for vital City services such as Fire, Police, parks and libraries.  Additional tax revenue from the expansion is projected to be more than $9 million annually. An estimated 1,860 jobs will be created during construction, and the expansion will support more than 2,000 new jobs annually.