Oregon Convention Center

What Oregon Convention Center does

Oregon Convention Center (OCC) is a government-owned convention facility in Portland, Oregon's Lloyd neighborhood, founded in 1990 and operated by Metro, the Portland region's government. The venue provides 255,000 square feet of column-free exhibit hall space alongside 52 adaptable meeting rooms, 2 grand ballrooms, 3 VIP suites, 800 underground parking spaces, and 18 loading bays, hosting conventions, trade shows, consumer events, corporate gatherings, and cultural programs for event organizers, professional associations, government entities, and consumer-facing show producers.

OCC's offering pairs physical venue rental with an integrated services platform: exclusive catering through Levy (Compass Group), preferred-partner AV and electrical services (ON Site Audio Visual, Edlen Electric), an Ungerboeck-powered exhibitor ordering portal, tiered Wi-Fi pricing, programmable LED spire lighting, a $2M+ public art collection, and accessibility services including KultureCity sensory bags and Mamava nursing suites. The facility's core infrastructure is differentiated by sustainability investments — 6,500+ solar panels, a Salmon-Safe certified rain garden, LEED Platinum recertification (2023), and the only U.S. EIC Sustainable Event Standards Platinum certification (January 2025) — supporting a 69% waste diversion rate and 57% local food sourcing within 250 miles.

Commercially, OCC operates a sales-led, event-driven GTM: direct booking through an in-house sales team and website inquiry funnel, with pricing for venue rental, F&B, parking, AV/electrical, and add-ons such as spire lighting (priced $500–$1,000/day). Revenue streams span one-time venue rentals and usage-based add-ons (Wi-Fi, lighting) plus shared-revenue professional services via catering and AV partners. The venue reports approximately 6,000 supported regional jobs and $625M in annual economic impact, with consumer spending exceeding $330M annually.

Name

Oregon Convention Center

Legal name

Oregon Convention Center

Website

https://oregoncc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Oregon Convention Center is a Metro-owned convention venue in Portland, Oregon, offering 255,000 sq ft of exhibit space, meeting rooms, and integrated event services including catering, AV, parking, and sustainability programming for event organizers, associations, government, and consumer event producers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Convention and Event Venue Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB), Convention Campus & District Operators (Integrated Venue Districts) (THAHAAAL)

Keywords

• Convention venue rental
• Event hosting services
• Trade show facilities
• Meeting and event spaces
• Sustainable event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Venue Space Rental: Rental of exhibit halls, meeting rooms, ballrooms, and VIP suites for events including conventions, trade shows, conferences, and meetings. Pricing varies by space type, duration, and event type.
2. Food and Beverage Catering: Full-service catering through Levy, including Portland Coffee Roasters cafes, Stir Bistro and Lounge, and custom event catering. Revenue shared through exclusive service agreement.
3. Parking Services: 800-space underground parking garage for clients, exhibitors, decorators, volunteers, and attendees. Additional surface lots and loading dock parking available.
4. Technology and AV Services: Telecom, internet, audiovisual, electrical, and utility services provided through preferred partners including ON Site Audio Visual and Edlen Electric.
5. Spire Lighting Branding: Custom spire lighting packages for event branding: $500/day single static color, $750/day multiple static colors, $1,000/day looping colors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Oregon Convention Center is a 255,000-square-foot convention venue in Portland, Oregon, renting flexible event spaces (exhibit halls, 52 meeting rooms, 2 grand ballrooms, 3 VIP suites) for conventions, trade shows, conferences, and corporate events. The venue bundles its space with Levy-operated catering, AV/technology, electrical, parking, spire lighting branding, accessibility, and sustainability consulting services for event organizers. It is the first convention center in the world to earn LEED certification and operates under cashless transactions with a Reverse ATM for equitable access.

Product overview

Oregon Convention Center is a convention center venue offering a unified platform of event hosting services. The core offering is venue rental of flexible spaces (255,000 sq ft exhibit halls, 52 meeting rooms, 2 ballrooms, 3 VIP suites) complemented by Levy-operated food and beverage catering, exhibitor services ordering via Ungerboeck, and supplementary add-on services including programmable spire lighting, parking and loading dock access, accessibility accommodations, public art tours, and sustainability consulting. The venue operates as a cashless facility with a Reverse ATM for cash conversion and is managed as part of Metro regional government.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Event Venue Rental Rental of flexible event spaces including 255,000 sq ft of column-free exhibit hall space, 52 adaptable meeting rooms, two grand ballrooms (Oregon Ballroom and Portland Ballroom), and three VIP suites for conferences, conventions, trade shows, corporate events, and public shows.
• Food and Beverage (Levy) On-site catering and dining operated by exclusive partner Levy, featuring locally sourced seasonal menus, Pacific Northwest cuisine, two Portland Coffee Roasters cafés, and Stir Bistro and Lounge with local microbrews, Oregon wines, and spirits.
• Event Services Comprehensive event production services including audiovisual (via ON Site Audio Visual), technology (telecom and internet), ticketing, public safety and medical staff, security, utilities (water, air, gas), electrical services (via Edlen Electric), marketing and branding support.
• Exhibitor Services Ordering Online ordering portal (Ungerboeck platform) for exhibitors to procure services including labor, utilities, audiovisual, move-in/out logistics, and sustainable event tools.
• Parking and Loading Dock 800 underground parking spaces, 18 loading bays with drive-in ramps, and 3 access ramps providing access to all floors of the convention center for event attendees, exhibitors, decorators, volunteers, and freight.
• Spire Lighting Branding Programmable LED lighting system on the iconic glass spires allowing event organizers to customize tower colors to reflect event branding or special observances; pricing from $500/day for single static color to $1,000/day for looping colors.
• Cashless Operations with Reverse ATM Fully cashless venue operations covering food and beverage, parking, locker rentals, and vending, with a Reverse ATM machine in the MLK Lobby enabling free cash-to-prepaid Visa gift card conversion ($1-$500 per load).
• Sustainability Consulting and Green Event Planning Green event planning support including formalized Waste Diversion Policy, LEED Platinum and EIC Sustainable Event Standards Platinum certification, 6,500+ solar panels generating 25%+ of electricity, rain garden watershed protection, and community donation programs.
• Space to Grow Fund Grant program providing financial, logistical, and strategic support to help mission-driven events created by underrepresented communities across Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supports approximately 6,000 regional jobs and attracts $625 million in economic impact annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TeslacoreTechnology or IntegrationTesla owns and operates the solar panel array at OCC through a competitive procurement process. Tesla installed one of the largest solar arrays on a U.S. convention center.
• Pacific Power Blue SkyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided $500,000 grant from customers of Pacific Power's Blue Sky renewable energy program to support solar array installation.
• Energy Trust of OregoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided grants including $200,000 for solar project and $41,000 for energy-efficient air handler projects. Partnership supports energy reduction initiatives.
• Bold ReusecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership for reusable container program in food and beverage operations. Since beginning partnership, 55,536 single-use items have been kept out of landfill. Sponsored by Pepsi.
• Levy (Compass Group)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExclusive food and beverage partner providing catering services, Portland Coffee Roasters cafes, and Stir Bistro and Lounge. Levy brings locally sourced, sustainable menus.
• Salmon-SafecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortland-based nonprofit providing certification for urban and agricultural watershed protection. OCC was first convention center in the U.S. to earn certification.
• Events Industry CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCC achieved Platinum certification under EIC Sustainable Event Standards, the only U.S. convention center with this level of certification.
• Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded OCC public art collection through Percent for Art program. Collection valued at over $2 million featuring over 20 Pacific Northwest artists.
• Metro (Regional Government)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCC is owned and operated by Metro, greater Portland's regional government. Metro oversees elected council, planning, and coordination.
• PATH Water BottlesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefillable BPA-free aluminum water bottles sold at OCC venues with 19 strategically placed bottle refill stations throughout.
• SmartEnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy management partnership supporting sustainability initiatives.
• The Wave FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting sustainability and environmental initiatives.
• U.S. EPA Green Power PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCC participates in EPA program for using green power.
• ON Site Audio VisualcoreTechnology or IntegrationPreferred provider for lighting, sound, video, and design production at OCC events.
• Edlen ElectriccoreTechnology or IntegrationPreferred electrical services partner handling hard-wiring, outlet strips, extension cords, floodlights, and custom plugs.
• Lloyd EcoDistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCC supports Lloyd EcoDistrict monthly cleanup events and community initiatives as part of the neighborhood sustainability efforts.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• McCormick Place: Largest convention center in North America, operated by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. Comparable public-authority ownership model and serves similar association and trade show customers, but at substantially greater scale than OCC.
• Los Angeles Convention Center: Larger West Coast convention center operated by the City of Los Angeles. Comparable municipal ownership structure and focus on conventions, trade shows, and consumer events, though at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center: Dallas convention center with similar large-scale exhibit space and meeting room capacity. Operated by the City of Dallas and serves comparable association, trade show, and consumer event customers.
• Colorado Convention Center: Mid-large scale convention center in Denver with comparable exhibit hall size and meeting room capacity. Operated by a city-affiliated authority (VISIT DENVER), serving similar professional association and trade show customer base.
• Moscone Center: Large San Francisco convention center operated by a similar city-managed structure. Comparable in scale and customer base (association conventions, trade shows, corporate events), making it a strong functional comparable for venue rental economics.
• Seattle Convention Center: Closest direct competitor in the Pacific Northwest convention center market. Operates two facilities including the newly opened Summit building, directly competing with OCC for regional association and corporate event bookings in the same geographic catchment.
• George R. Brown Convention Center: Houston convention center operated by the Houston First Corporation, a government-affiliated entity similar to OCC's Metro ownership structure. Comparable scale and customer mix of association meetings, trade shows, and consumer events.

Others

• ASM Global: Leading venue management company that manages convention centers and arenas globally. Relevant because ASM-managed competitor venues represent alternative management models and may benchmark operational efficiency against government-operated facilities like OCC.

Regional players

• Vancouver Convention Centre: Major convention center across the border in British Columbia, serving the same Pacific Northwest corporate and association market. Comparable scale with modern facilities and similar sustainability credentials, competing for international event rotations.
• Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center: Salt Lake City convention center with comparable exhibit hall footprint. Operated by a municipal authority and competes for similar Western U.S. association and trade show business, though in a different regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/OregonConventionCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/OregonConventionCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/oregonconventioncenter
• Xx.com/oregoncc

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oregon Convention Center