New Exposition Center to Open in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in January 2021
October 13, 2020
The home of the Packers will also be home to an expansive new event venue by January 2021. Resch Expo, a 125,000-square-foot, column-free exposition center, is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, adjacent Lambeau Field in the city’s entertainment district. Together with the existing Resch Center — which opened in 2002 and hosts events from concerts to trade shows — it will make up the new Resch Complex.
More than 700 hotel rooms and a dozen restaurants are within easy walking distance of the complex, complementing the city’s more than 4,500 total hotel rooms.
Design of the non-union Resch Expo is centered around natural light, as well as views of the iconic football stadium (though, the Green Bay Packers games will not host fans at home games until further notice, according to the Greater Green Bay CVB). The main floor has ticketing/check-in offices, pre-function space and concessions, all connected to an outdoor plaza.
The exhibit hall floor can be divided into event spaces in a three, two or one-hall design; using the entire space allows for more than 600 10-by-10-foot booth spaces. Each exhibit hall has its own event planner office, as well. Six breakout suites on the second level of the building have independent audio/visual and temperature controls. In addition to plated, buffet and quick service food service, the venue offers an upstairs cocktail bar for more intimate parties.
As an added incentive to book a meeting in Green Bay, properties in the city are offering zero attrition and zero cancellation fees on groups booked by Dec. 1 and held by May 1, 2021.
Wisconsin does not currently have limitations on group size. For example, if a group of 300 were to book inside Green Bay’s 80,000-square-foot KI Convention Center this fall, it would likely be set in a room that would normally accommodate 1,000 people, with staff following the city’s Guide to Hospitality Cleanliness standards for a safe event, say CVB officials. However, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared a public health emergency for the state in September, as the state is currently experiencing another spike in COVID-19 cases.
Looking ahead, however, the city is optimistic about future opportunities to host events in their newest venue.
“While the pandemic has brought uncertainties to the events industry, our hospitality community has committed to safety and cleanliness of facilities, hotels and airport operations,” says Brenda Krainik, director of marketing and communications for the CVB. “We’ve worked closely with our county to communicate and execute our commitment to safely host groups in our events spaces, including the new Resch Expo.”
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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