| Los Angeles Convention Center | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Los Angeles Convention Center Annex, South Hall entrance at Pico and Figueroa | |
 | |
| Address | 1201 South Figueroa Street Los Angeles,California 90015 |
| Coordinates | 34°02′23″N118°16′13″W / 34.039737°N 118.270293°W /34.039737; -118.270293 |
| Operator | Anschutz Entertainment Group ASM Global |
| Built | 1971 |
| Expanded | 1981, 1993, 1997 |
Theatre seating | 15,000(West Hall)[1] 22,870(South Hall)[2] |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Total space | 720,000 sq ft (67,000 m2) |
| Parking | 5,600 spaces[3] |
Bicycle facilities | Yes |
| Public transit access |     Pico |
TheLos Angeles Convention Center is aconvention center located in the southwest section ofDowntownLos Angeles, California, United States. It hosts multiple annual conventions and has often been used as a filming location in TV shows and movies.
The convention center, designed by architectCharles Luckman, opened in 1971 and expanded in 1981, 1993 and 1997.[4] It was originally built as a rectangular building, betweenPico Boulevard and 11th Street (nowChick Hearn Ct.) onFigueroa Street. The northeast portion of the center was demolished in 1997 to make way for theStaples Center. The Convention Center Annex of green glass and white steel frames, mainly on the south side of Pico, was designed by architectJames Ingo Freed.[5]
The area in front of the convention center is known as theGilbert Lindsay Plaza, named for the late councilman who represented the Downtown area of Los Angeles for several years. A 10-foot (3.0 m)-high monument honoring "The Emperor of the Great 9th District" was unveiled in 1995.[6] The drive between Figueroa Street and the convention center building is also named after Councilman Lindsay.
OnMarch 1, 1983, a tornado caused damages to the roof and upper-level panels. The building was repaired and new convention center lettering signs were installed at a total cost of $3 million.[7]
On September 15, 2008, the convention center became the first in the U.S. and first Los Angeles City building of its age and size in the U.S. to beLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified for Existing Buildings from theUnited States Green Building Council.
In 2010, the Anschutz Entertainment Group and businessmanCasey Wasserman proposed construction ofFarmers Field, a US$1 billion combination football stadium and convention center, meant to attract the return of aNational Football League (NFL) team to the Los Angeles area.[8] The development proposal was abandoned in March 2015 as plans forSoFi Stadium and a later rejected NFL stadium proposal in Carson started to get off the ground.
In 2013, the Los Angeles City Council voted to letAnschutz Entertainment Group manage the convention center.[9]
A proposal was developed in 2015, approved by city hall and a design team was chosen. A new convention hall, called "LACOEX", would be built, with a connection to the south hall.[10]
TheJanuary 2025 Southern California wildfires impacted plans for the expansion of the convention center.[11] Expansion could start in the years prior to the 2028 Olympics, with a brief pause prior to the games, then resuming afterwards with the goal of a 2029 completion. It will cost approximately $2.2 billion to expand and renovate the convention center. The expansion will add 190,000 square feet of exhibition hall space, 55,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and an additional 95,000 square feet of multi-purpose space.[12] In September of 2025, the city council approved the expansion plans, allowing the expansion to move forward.[13]
The convention center hosts annual events such as theLos Angeles Auto Show, the Abilities Expo, and theAnime Expo.
During the week leading up to the annualGrammy Awards, the convention center typically hosts several Grammy week events. Since 2005, the convention center has hosted theMusiCares Person of the Year tribute, which takes place two days prior to the Grammy Awards.[14]
It also hosted the pre-telecast portion of the Grammy Awards (preceding the main telecast at theCrypto.com Arena) until 2013, when the pre-telecast was moved to thePeacock Theater.[15]
The2021 awards were held in and around the convention center, owing to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[16]
Following the annualPrimetime Emmy Awards ceremony, the convention center hosts the Governors Ball, one of the major Emmy after-parties.[17]
The convention center will host five sports during the2028 Summer Olympics. It will hostFencing,Taekwondo,Table Tennis,Judo andwrestling. It will also host, Wheelchair fencing, table tennis, boccia and goalball during the Paralympics. It will be a part of the downtown sports park area, including an "Olympic way" live site down Figueroa St.[18]
TheLos Angeles Sparks played 11 of their 16 home games during the2021 WNBA season at the convention center due to scheduling conflicts at their main home venue, theStaples Center, as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemic's delays in other league schedules.[19] The convention center was configured with limited seating and drew an average of 1,144 spectators per game.[20]
With the exception of 1997, 1998, and 2007 the annual video game trade eventElectronic Entertainment Expo (E3) was hosted there between1995 and2019.[21][22][23][24] The event was eventually discontinued in2023 as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemic on the video game industry.[25]
The convention center is one of the largest convention centers in the United States with over 720,000 sq ft (67,000 m2) of exhibition space, 147,000 sq ft (13,700 m2) of meeting space, 19.6 million sq ft (1,820,000 m2) of parking, and a 299-seat theater.[26]
The lobby floors in the north half of the building feature two large 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m2) multicolor maps of inlaidterrazzo. The project was installed by artistAlexis Smith in 1993. Amap of the world centered on thePacific Rim covers the entire floor of the main lobby, while amap of theconstellations around the northcelestial pole covers the floor of the upstairs lobby.
The majority of the ceremony was held outside the LA Convention Center, with nominees sitting at socially-distanced tables.
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