Gateway Convention Center
Gateway Convention Center is a municipally-owned, 105,000 sq ft multi-purpose venue in Collinsville, IL (Metro East St. Louis) hosting 300+ events annually across trade shows, corporate meetings, weddings, and consumer shows, with in-house catering, AV, and self-produced consumer event brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersCollinsville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Gateway Convention Center does
Gateway Convention Center is a multi-purpose convention venue owned and operated by the City of Collinsville, Illinois, located at One Gateway Drive in the Metro East St. Louis region. The facility comprises 105,000 gross square feet, of which approximately 50,000 square feet is flexible, configurable event space capable of hosting groups ranging from 20 to 3,200 attendees across trade shows, conventions, corporate meetings, banquets, weddings, and consumer events. The center was originally constructed in the mid-1980s under the Illinois Civic Center Act and has been expanded twice, with its most recent expansion completed in 2006; the City of Collinsville assumed full ownership and operation on May 1, 2018.
The venue is supported by free 1 Gigabit fiber internet throughout all halls and meeting rooms, an in-house audiovisual production team (lighting, sound, rigging, stage design, video), in-house and preferred-partner catering (10 external caterers plus an internal catering department), four exterior loading docks, ADA-accessible single-level layout, and free on-site parking. Technology integrations include BS&A for payment processing and Purplepass for consumer show ticketing. The center also owns and produces a portfolio of consumer-facing events, including the 33-year-old Let's Go Fishing Show, the Gateway Wedding Show, and seasonal Harvest & Handmade, Winter, and Fall Markets.
The business model operates through multiple revenue streams: quote-based venue space rental, in-house catering and bar services, preferred-caterer referral arrangements, exhibitor equipment and utility services, and direct ticket and vendor booth revenue from owned consumer shows. Pricing is not publicly disclosed for venue rental but is positioned as "small-town pricing with big-city amenities," anchored by the surrounding Collinsville Hospitality District of 9 hotels and 900+ rooms. The customer base is highly diversified across more than 300 events annually, including trade show organizers, corporate clients, wedding and social event planners, and nonprofit and community organizations, sourced through direct sales, an inside sales team, RFP-driven booking, and word-of-mouth referrals within the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce network.
Gateway Convention Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gateway Convention Center
- Legal name
- Gateway Convention Center
- Website
- https://gatewaycenter.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Gateway Convention Center is a municipally-owned, 105,000 sq ft multi-purpose venue in Collinsville, IL (Metro East St. Louis) hosting 300+ events annually across trade shows, corporate meetings, weddings, and consumer shows, with in-house catering, AV, and self-produced consumer event brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gateway Convention Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Convention and Event Venue Services
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Conference & Convention Center Catering (THAHAKAB), Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB)
Keywords
Where Gateway Convention Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Collinsville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gateway Convention Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Venue Space Rental: Rental of flexible event space including exhibit halls, ballrooms, and meeting rooms to organizers of trade shows, conventions, banquets, meetings, and other events. Pricing is quote-based and varies by event type, duration, and space requirements.
- In-House Catering & Bar Services: Internal catering department providing breakfast, lunch, dinner, and plated banquet meals including setup, serving, and cleanup. Bar packages are offered exclusively in-house and are customizable. Catering revenue is generated through per-event food and beverage contracts.
- Preferred Catering Program: Revenue-sharing or referral arrangements with a network of approved preferred caterers (Bella Milano, Championship Catering, Chicken Salad Chick, Colton's, Concettas, Hi Pointe, Jerry's Cafe, Kitchen Scratch, Pasta House, Uncle Linny's) who work directly with clients for separate catering contracts.
- Exhibitor Services & Equipment Rental: Equipment rental (pipe and drape, tables, chairs, AV, power) and exhibitor setup/teardown services. Exhibitors pay fees for equipment and utilities via the Exhibitor Work Order Form.
- Owned Consumer Show Production: The center owns and produces the Let's Go Fishing Show, Gateway Wedding Show, Harvest & Handmade Craft Market, and Winter Market, generating ticket admission revenue and vendor booth fees directly from public attendees and exhibitors.
- Payment Processing Fees: Gateway Convention Center charges a 2.75% processing fee plus $0.50 per transaction for credit card payments, and $1.50 for ACH/e-check payments through the BS&A online payment portal.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Let's Go Fishing Show general admission - $8.00 per day |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Credit card payment processing fee |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | ACH / e-check payment processing fee |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Gateway Convention Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gateway Convention Center is a 105,000 gross square foot multi-purpose convention venue in Collinsville, Illinois, offering approximately 50,000 square feet of flexible event space for trade shows, conventions, banquets, corporate meetings, weddings, and consumer shows accommodating 20 to 3,200 attendees. The center provides an all-in-one service model including in-house catering and bar, full in-house audio-visual production, exhibitor services, free 1 Gigabit fiber internet, and four exterior loading docks, and also produces and hosts its own consumer shows such as the Let's Go Fishing Show and Gateway Wedding Show.
Product overview
Gateway Convention Center is a multi-purpose convention center venue operated by the City of Collinsville, Illinois. The facility offers approximately 50,000 square feet of flexible event space and hosts over 300 functions annually. The venue's owned and produced events include the Let's Go Fishing Show, Gateway Wedding Show, Harvest & Handmade Craft Market, Winter Market, and Fall Market. Service modules include Audio Visual Services with in-house production capabilities, Technology Services featuring free 1 Gigabit fiber internet, Menu & Catering Services with multiple catering options, Exhibitor Services for equipment rental and setup, Shipping & Receiving logistics, Virtual Tours for space exploration, and Floor Plans for event layout planning. The center serves diverse event types including conventions, trade shows, banquets, weddings, corporate meetings, and fan conventions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Let's Go Fishing Show: Annual fishing enthusiast event featuring vendors, products, live demos, seminars, kid's activities, and free seminars running for 33 years.
- Gateway Wedding Show
- Harvest & Handmade Craft Market
- Winter Market
Products and services
- Gateway Convention Center Venue Rental Multi-purpose convention center offering approximately 50,000 square feet of flexible event space (exhibit halls, ballrooms, meeting rooms) accommodating groups from 20 to 3,200 attendees for trade shows, conventions, banquets, corporate gatherings, weddings, and consumer shows.
- Let's Go Fishing Show Annual consumer show for fishing enthusiasts featuring vendor products, live demos, kid's activities, and free seminars, held at Gateway Convention Center.
- Gateway Wedding Show Annual wedding planning event featuring vendors, food sampling, live fashion show, prize giveaways, and contests for engaged couples and event planners.
- Harvest & Handmade Craft Market Seasonal craft market event produced by Gateway Convention Center featuring handmade goods and artisan vendors.
- Winter Market Seasonal winter market event produced by Gateway Convention Center featuring craft vendors and holiday shopping opportunities.
- Fall Market Seasonal fall market event produced by Gateway Convention Center featuring local vendors and seasonal products.
- Audio Visual Services In-house production team providing audiovisual equipment, lighting, sound, rigging, stage design, and video services for events ranging from simple to elaborate productions.
- Technology Services (High-Speed Internet) 1 Gigabit fiber internet access provided free of charge throughout exhibit halls, meeting rooms, and public areas, suitable for high-bandwidth events including eSports tournaments and gaming events.
- Menu & Catering Services Flexible catering options including in-house catering department, preferred caterer partnerships with 10 vendors, and outside caterer arrangements, plus customizable bar services packages.
- Exhibitor Services Equipment rental and setup services for exhibitors including pipe and drape, tables, chairs, power, and AV equipment, with setup and tear down handled by the center.
- Shipping & Receiving Freight handling services with acceptance one day prior to events, four exterior docks for vendor access, and storage capabilities for registration and meeting materials up to 5 days in advance.
Companies that use Gateway Convention Center
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Gateway Convention Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Gateway Convention Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Bella Milano (Preferred Caterer)minorBella Milano is a preferred catering partner of Gateway Convention Center. Event clients can select Bella Milano for off-site catering services. Jacob Mayfield serves as Catering Manager. They are a separate entity from Gateway Convention Center.
- Championship Catering (Preferred Caterer)minorChampionship Catering is a preferred catering partner offering menu options at various price points. Owner and Master Chef Larry Gerstein leads the team. They are a separate entity from Gateway Convention Center.
- Chicken Salad Chick (Preferred Caterer)minorChicken Salad Chick is a preferred catering partner available to Gateway Convention Center clients. They are a separate entity from Gateway Convention Center.
- Colton's Steak House & Grill (Preferred Caterer)minorColton's Steak House & Grill is a preferred catering partner available to Gateway Convention Center clients. They are a separate entity from Gateway Convention Center.
- Concetta's Catering (Preferred Caterer)minorConcetta's Catering is a preferred catering partner available to Gateway Convention Center clients. Owner Caitlin McCafferty leads the team. They are a separate entity from Gateway Convention Center.
- Hi Pointe Drive In Catering (Preferred Caterer)minorHi Pointe Drive In Catering is a preferred catering partner available to Gateway Convention Center clients. They are a separate entity from Gateway Convention Center.
- Jerry's Cafe (Preferred Caterer)minorJerry's Cafe is a preferred catering partner available to Gateway Convention Center clients. Chef Jon Roderick leads the team. They are a separate entity from Gateway Convention Center.
- Kitchen Scratch Catering (Preferred Caterer)minorKitchen Scratch Catering is a preferred catering partner available to Gateway Convention Center clients. Manager Hannah Schallenberg leads the team. They are a separate entity from Gateway Convention Center.
- The Pasta House Catering Co. (Preferred Caterer)minorThe Pasta House Catering Co. is a preferred catering partner available to Gateway Convention Center clients. Catering Account Executive Ashley Niewoehner serves as the contact. They are a separate entity from Gateway Convention Center.
- Uncle Linny's (Preferred Caterer)minorUncle Linny's is a preferred catering partner available to Gateway Convention Center clients. Owner Linny Selini leads the team. They are a separate entity from Gateway Convention Center.
- Sling N Scoops (Preferred Caterer)minorSling N Scoops is a preferred dessert catering partner for Gateway Wedding Show. They are a separate entity from Gateway Convention Center.
- TravelHaus (Wedding Show Sponsor)minorTravelHaus is a wedding show sponsor and grand prize honeymoon drawing sponsor for the Gateway Wedding Show. They are a separate travel agency.
- Patty Cakes (Wedding Show Sponsor)minorPatty Cakes of Highland, IL is a wedding show sponsor and Cake Dive Contest sponsor for the Gateway Wedding Show.
- Elegant Brides (Wedding Show Sponsor)minorElegant Brides of Edwardsville, IL is a wedding show sponsor and Live Fashion Show sponsor for the Gateway Wedding Show.
- Find My Ambition (Wedding Show Sponsor)minorFind My Ambition is a coffee caterer and wedding show sponsor for the Gateway Wedding Show, offering a $100 off signature package attendance prize.
- City of Collinsville (Owner & Operator)coreGateway Convention Center is owned and operated by the City of Collinsville since May 1, 2018. The consolidation unifies both entities in economic development activities and policies. The center contributes approximately $36 million to the City economy annually. This merger provides access to funding for capital improvements and allows consolidated branding among CVB, Parks and Recreation, and Gateway Convention Center.
- Collinsville Chamber of CommerceminorThe Collinsville Chamber of Commerce (discovercollinsville.com) is referenced as a referral partner for event promotion and local business networking, with the convention center listed on the chamber's website.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Gateway Convention Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch: Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch is an upscale hotel connected to America's Center offering substantial ballrooms and meeting space. It is comparable to Gateway as a competing St. Louis-metro event venue, though its convention space is bundled within a full-service hotel product rather than a standalone facility.
- Marriott St. Louis Grand: Marriott St. Louis Grand is a downtown St. Louis convention-oriented hotel with significant meeting and banquet facilities. It is comparable to Gateway as a competing venue for mid-size corporate events and weddings in the St. Louis metro, distinguished by its attached hotel rooms and brand infrastructure.
- St. Louis Union Station Hotel: St. Louis Union Station Hotel is a historic hotel in downtown St. Louis featuring large ballrooms and event space used for consumer shows, weddings, and corporate events. It is comparable to Gateway as a competing regional venue for mid-size events in the St. Louis metro, though it pairs space with a lodging and entertainment complex.
Regional players
- Peoria Civic Center: Peoria Civic Center is an Illinois-based multi-purpose convention and event facility operated by a municipal authority. It is comparable to Gateway as a publicly operated regional venue hosting trade shows, conventions, consumer events, and banquets for a Midwest catchment.
- Overland Park Convention Center: Overland Park Convention Center is a publicly operated convention facility in the Kansas City metro offering exhibit halls, ballrooms, and meeting rooms. It is comparable as a municipal regional venue competing in a similar mid-size metro market with similar event segments.
- Effingham Event Center: Effingham Event Center is an Illinois-based multi-purpose event venue hosting trade shows, consumer shows, and banquets. It is comparable to Gateway as a mid-size publicly supported regional convention facility serving a smaller metro catchment in Illinois.
Direct peers
- St. Charles Convention Center: St. Charles Convention Center is a regional convention venue in the St. Louis metro area offering exhibit halls, ballrooms, and meeting rooms. It is directly comparable to Gateway in size, customer mix (corporate events, weddings, trade shows), and Greater St. Louis regional catchment.
- America's Center Convention Complex: America's Center Convention Complex is a large-scale convention and exhibition facility in downtown St. Louis, the closest direct competitor to Gateway Convention Center, serving many of the same trade shows, corporate events, and consumer shows in the St. Louis metro region.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gateway Convention Center social profiles
Digital presenceGateway Convention Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gateway Convention Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Gateway Convention Center subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Gateway Convention Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gateway Convention Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gateway Convention Center
What does Gateway Convention Center do?
Gateway Convention Center is a 105,000 gross square foot multi-purpose convention venue in Collinsville, Illinois, offering approximately 50,000 square feet of flexible event space for trade shows, conventions, banquets, corporate meetings, weddings, and consumer shows accommodating 20 to 3,200 attendees. The center provides an all-in-one service model including in-house catering and bar, full in-house audio-visual production, exhibitor services, free 1 Gigabit fiber internet, and four exterior loading docks, and also produces and hosts its own consumer shows such as the Let's Go Fishing Show and Gateway Wedding Show.
Is Gateway Convention Center a public or private company?
Gateway Convention Center is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Gateway Convention Center founded?
Gateway Convention Center was founded in 1980. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Gateway Convention Center based?
Gateway Convention Center is headquartered in Collinsville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Gateway Convention Center make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Venue Space Rental is the primary driver. The others are in-House Catering & Bar Services, preferred Catering Program, exhibitor Services & Equipment Rental, owned Consumer Show Production and payment Processing Fees.
Who are Gateway Convention Center's main competitors?
Others on record are Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch, Marriott St. Louis Grand and St. Louis Union Station Hotel. Regional players are Peoria Civic Center, Overland Park Convention Center and Effingham Event Center. Direct peers are St. Charles Convention Center and America's Center Convention Complex.
Does Gateway Convention Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gateway Convention Center.
What industry is Gateway Convention Center in?
Gateway Convention Center's product category is Convention and Event Venue Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAAAA, Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers), with a secondary code of THAHAKAB, Conference & Convention Center Catering. Its NAICS code is 561920 and its SIC code is 7900.