Rhode Island Convention Center
Location | 1 Sabin St, Providence, RI |
---|---|
Owner | Rhode Island Convention Center Authority |
Operator | ASM Global |
Construction | |
Opened | November 24, 1993[1] |
Architect | Howard, Needles, Tammen, and Bergendoff[1] |
Website | |
www.riconvention.com |
The Rhode Island Convention Center is an
History
Background
As far back as 1958, plans had been put forward to build a convention center. A 1970 planning document had included a civic and convention center, but when the
Construction
The Convention Center Authority purchased the Bonanza Bus Station and two parking lots to provide land. The bus station was demolished to make room for the Convention Center.[1]
Construction on the Center proceeded rapidly, despite the land being unstable; the site had been the location of the Great Salt Cove, which meant that pilings had to be driven deeper than originally anticipated. Despite this, the project opened on schedule. The north parking garage finished January 1993; the Convention Center and south garage were completed November 1993. The center held its ribbon cutting ceremony on November 24, 1993.[1]
The adjacent Westin Hotel (now Omni Providence Hotel) was completed in December 1994.[1]
21st Century
In 2017, the Convention Center hosted 242 events.[3] It made an operating profit of $800,000, which is an unusually high revenue for a convention center.[3] However, as of 2018 the state still pays $15 million per year to pay off the initial construction bonds.[3] The Center is operated by the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority, which also operates the Dunkin’ Donuts Center and Veterans Memorial Auditorium.[3]
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021 resulted in the cancellation of most of the shows and concerts normally hosted by the convention center, including the Rhode Island Comic Con (a major draw).[4] The state of Rhode Island paid to rent the facility for emergency measures; the main exhibition space was utilized for a COVID field hospital, and the garages became the home for a testing laboratory and drive-through testing site.[4] This role enabled the center to remain profitable despite the decline in normal programming.[4]
Proposed Name Change
On June 30, 2022, the naming rights to the Dunkin' Donuts Center officially expired after 21 years. On September 6, 2022, it was announced that Lincoln, Rhode Island based Amica Mutual Insurance purchased the naming rights, opting to rename the arena to the Amica Mutual Pavilion. Although Amica was also awarded the rights to rename the convention center as part of the new deal, the company ultimately chose to keep the facility's current name.[5]
Events
The Convention Center hosts nearly 250 events each year.[3] Examples include the Rhode Island Comic Con, dance competitions, and trade shows such as the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association Expo, the New England Regional Turfgrass Foundation, the Providence Boat Show, the Baby Show, and the Business Expo.[3]
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 9781555536046. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ Official website
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Parker, Paul Edward (11 March 2018). "R.I. Convention Center rings up an operating profit in 2017". The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ a b c Parker, Paul Edward (30 January 2021). "RI Convention Center Authority turns to unusual revenue sources in pandemic". The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ Anderson, Patrick. "'The Dunk' is now 'The AMP' — Amica reveals new name". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
External links
41°49′28.4″N 71°24′57.6″W / 41.824556°N 71.416000°W