| Venetian Expo | |
|---|---|
 Main entrance in 2010 | |
 Interactive map of {{#if empty|Venetian Expo|Venetian Expo}} | |
| Address | 201 Sands Avenue |
| Location | Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 36°07′18″N115°09′57″W / 36.12167°N 115.16583°W /36.12167; -115.16583 |
| Owner | Vici Properties |
| Operator | Apollo Global Management |
| Opened | November 9, 1990 |
| Renovated | 2013 |
| Expanded | 2003 |
Former names | Sands Expo (1990–2021) |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Total space | 2.25-million sq ft (209,000 m2) |
| Website | |
| www | |
TheVenetian Expo (also known as theVenetian Convention and Expo Center)[1] is aconvention center located inParadise, Nevada, near theLas Vegas Strip.[2] It is part of theVenetian andPalazzo resort complex, owned byVici Properties and operated byApollo Global Management.
The convention facility was developed byLas Vegas Sands and opened as theSands Expo on November 9, 1990. It was built as part of theSands Hotel, since replaced by the Venetian. The Sands Expo was renamed the Venetian Expo in 2021, while Vici and Apollo were in the process of purchasing it. The facility is frequently used forconventions booked at the Venetian and Palazzo. It is also used as overflow space for conventions that outgrow theLas Vegas Convention Center.
In October 1989, theSands Hotel received county approval for a convention center with approximately 1.1-million-square-foot, rivaling theLas Vegas Convention Center.[3] The new facility was developed byLas Vegas Sands, owner of the Sands Hotel.Groundbreaking took place on November 12, 1989.[4] The Sands Expo, located behind the hotel,[5] opened on November 9, 1990. TheCOMDEX computer trade show was the first event held in the space.[6][7] At its launch, it was the only privately owned and operated convention center in the United States, and was the second largest convention center in the world.[citation needed]
The Sands Hotel closed in 1996, and theVenetian resort opened in its place three years later. Since then, the Sands Expo has helped popularize Las Vegas as a convention city.[8] An expansion was completed in 2003,[9] and a $35 million renovation took place 10 years later, adding new carpeting, lighting and motion sensors as part of environmental efforts.[10]
The convention center has 2.25-million sq ft (209,000 m2).[11] Notable events have included theConsumer Electronics Show, theAdult Entertainment Expo, and theGlobal Gaming Expo.[12][13] In 2020, the12th season ofShark Tank was filmed at the convention center.[14]
In 2021, Las Vegas Sands announced that it would sell the Venetian-Palazzo complex, including the Sands Expo, toVici Properties andApollo Global Management. Under the deal, Vici owns the real estate while Apollo purchased the operations for the three facilities.[15] Las Vegas Sands renamed the convention center as the Venetian Expo in September 2021, while still in the process of selling the facility.[11][16] The sale was finalized in February 2022.[17]