Henry B. González Convention Center
The Henry B. González Convention Center is a City of San Antonio-owned 1.6 million sq ft convention facility on the River Walk hosting 300+ events annually, serving event planners, associations, exhibitors, and performing arts organizations with venue space, catering, AV, and event services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersSan Antonio, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Henry B. González Convention Center does
The Henry B. González Convention Center is a 1.6 million square foot municipal convention facility owned and operated by the City of San Antonio through its Convention & Sports Facilities department, located at 900 E. Market Street on the River Walk in downtown San Antonio. Originally built in 1968 as part of HemisFair '68, the facility was transformed between 2013 and 2016 via a $325 million capital project — the largest in city history — into a modern complex encompassing five exhibit halls with 514,000 sq ft of contiguous space under 35-foot ceilings, the 54,000 sq ft Stars at Night Ballroom (the largest in Texas), the 39,576 sq ft Hemisfair Ballroom, the 2,319-seat Lila Cockrell Theatre, over 70 meeting rooms including the cantilevered Cantilever Room, the Western-themed LDR ballroom, and the riverside Grotto reception area. Technology infrastructure includes Smart City Networks telecom and complimentary Wi-Fi, integrated AV by Encore Event Technologies, programmable LED lighting (1,642 fixtures in Stars at Night), and an interactive 3,510-panel Liquid Crystal art installation.
The venue operates as a multi-segment event facility serving event planners and association organizers (conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings), exhibitors (booth and utility services), performing arts organizations (concerts and theater via Lila Cockrell Theatre), and event attendees. Revenue is generated through four primary streams: venue space rental (exhibit halls, ballrooms, meeting rooms, outdoor spaces — quote-based pricing, not publicly disclosed), managed catering and concessions via RK Culinary Group, transaction-based parking across six facilities ($8–$45 daily range), and professional event services (AV, electrical, security, business center). The go-to-market is enterprise field sales through a dedicated Booking Division (210.207.8555) and Event Services team (210.207.5787), supplemented by the Visit San Antonio CVB referral channel and a direct RFP submission system. The facility holds LEED Silver (2017) and GBAC (2020) certifications and hosts over 300 events annually serving 750,000+ delegates.
Customer base is diversified across association conferences, trade shows, corporate events, performing arts, and consumer events, with named repeat clients including healthcare and nonprofit associations (ASTRO, ACAAI, American Society for Microbiology, American Health Care Association, AFP, CMAA). The property is government-owned with no outside institutional investment; revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.
Henry B. González Convention Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Henry B. González Convention Center
- Legal name
- Henry B. González Convention Center
- Website
- https://sahbgcc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Henry B. González Convention Center is a City of San Antonio-owned 1.6 million sq ft convention facility on the River Walk hosting 300+ events annually, serving event planners, associations, exhibitors, and performing arts organizations with venue space, catering, AV, and event services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Henry B. González Convention Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Convention and Event Venue Facilities
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE)
Keywords
Where Henry B. González Convention Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Antonio
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Henry B. González Convention Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Venue Space Rental: Rental of exhibit halls, ballrooms, meeting rooms, and outdoor spaces for conventions, trade shows, corporate events, and performing arts events. Revenue based on space type, duration, and event requirements.
- Catering & Concessions: Exclusive catering and concessions provided by The RK Culinary Group for over 40 years. Includes on-site dining venues: Broken Crust Café, Market Café, and El Puente Café.
- Parking Services: Multiple parking facilities including Convention Center Garage, Grand Hyatt Garage, and surface lots with daily rates ranging from $8-$45 depending on duration and location.
- Event Services: Additional revenue streams from AV equipment (Encore Event Technologies), electrical services (Edlen/Freeman), security (SAPD), and business center (UPS Store).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Grand Hyatt Parking Garage |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Convention Center Garage |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Convention Center South Parking |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Tower of the Americas Parking |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Riverbend Garage |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Shops at Rivercenter Parking |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Henry B. González Convention Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Henry B. González Convention Center is a 1.6 million sq ft municipal event venue offering diverse, flexible spaces for conventions, trade shows, meetings, banquets, and performing arts events. The facility rents ballrooms (including the 54,000 sq ft Stars at Night Ballroom—the largest in Texas—and the 39,576 sq ft Hemisfair Ballroom), five exhibit halls totaling approximately 514,000 sq ft of contiguous space, over 70 meeting rooms, and the 2,319-seat Lila Cockrell Theatre. Comprehensive event services include exclusive WiFi/telecom (Smart City Networks), audiovisual/rigging (Encore Event Technologies), catering/concessions (The RK Culinary Group), electrical services (Edlen/Freeman), and security (SAPD).
Product overview
The Henry B. González Convention Center is a 1.6 million square foot event venue complex offering diverse, flexible spaces for conventions, trade shows, meetings, banquets, and performing arts events. The facility features the Stars at Night Ballroom (54,000 sq ft, the largest in Texas) and Hemisfair Ballroom (39,576 sq ft); five exhibit halls totaling approximately 514,000 sq ft of contiguous space; over 70 meeting rooms; the 2,319-seat Lila Cockrell Theatre; the Western-themed LDR ballroom; and the riverside Grotto reception area. Event services include WiFi/telecommunications, audiovisual, catering, electrical, security, and rigging through exclusive providers. The center is LEED Silver certified and hosts over 300 events annually with 750,000+ delegates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Stars at Night Ballroom: The largest ballroom in Texas at 54,000 square feet, featuring custom wooden slat walls, undulating metal grillwork ceiling with 1,642 programmable LED lights, and a cantilevered balcony overlooking downtown San Antonio.
- Hemisfair Ballroom
- Lila Cockrell Theatre
- Cantilever Room
- The LDR & Grotto
Products and services
- Stars at Night Ballroom 54,000 square foot ballroom—the largest in Texas—featuring custom wooden slat walls, undulating metal grillwork ceiling with 1,642 programmable LED lights, divisible into 3 distinct spaces, with adjacent 5,100 sq ft cantilevered balcony overlooking downtown San Antonio. For conventions, banquets, and large-scale events.
- Hemisfair Ballroom
Quantifiable outcome
- 300+ events per year with 750,000+ convention delegates
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Henry B. González Convention Center
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Henry B. González Convention Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Henry B. González Convention Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The RK Culinary GroupcoreExclusive provider of all catering and concessions at the San Antonio Convention Center for over 40 years. Operates Broken Crust Café, Market Café, and El Puente Café. Also contributes to sustainability through Eco-Safe Digesters for food waste decomposition.
- Encore Event TechnologiescoreExclusive provider of audiovisual services and rigging services at the Henry B González Convention Center. Offers wide range of event technology support for meetings and exhibit floors. Also exclusive rigging service provider.
- Smart City NetworkscoreExclusive technology service provider offering voice, internet, wired/wireless data, VPN, streaming, booth-to-booth connectivity, and custom network engineering. Provides complimentary Wi-Fi in all common spaces, meeting rooms, and lobbies.
- Edlen Electrical Exhibition ServicescoreOne of two exclusive electrical service providers for the Convention Center and Lila Cockrell Theater. Contact: 210.662.9450.
- Freeman Electrical ServicescoreOne of two exclusive electrical service providers for the Convention Center and Lila Cockrell Theater. Contact: 210.227.0341.
- City of San Antonio Off-Duty Police Employment UnitcoreExclusive provider of all event-related security services. Uniformed police officers must be hired for move-in/move-out monitoring, shuttle bus access control, overnight security, and events where alcohol is served. Contact: 210.207.7020.
- Visit San AntoniocoreOfficial Convention & Visitors Bureau that markets San Antonio as a convention destination and refers clients to the Henry B. González Convention Center. Contact: 866.517.7771.
- TicketmastercoreOfficial ticketing partner for Lila Cockrell Theatre. Theatre Box Office opens 2 hours before events; tickets available at Ticketmaster outlets and online at ticketmaster.com.
- Grand Hyatt San AntoniominorAdjacent hotel surrounding the Convention Center, providing accommodation for convention attendees. Parking garage at 600 E. Market available for theatre access.
- AlamodomeminorThird generation facility with column-free spans, mentioned as a related San Antonio venue. 65,000-seat stadium within walking distance.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Henry B. González Convention Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Los Angeles Convention Center: Major West Coast convention facility serving associations, trade shows, and corporate events with overlapping customer base to HBGCC, particularly for larger national rotating conventions.
- Colorado Convention Center (Denver): Denver's primary convention venue with a large ballroom, exhibit halls, and performing arts theater (Bellco Theatre), offering an event portfolio highly analogous to HBGCC's Stars at Night Ballroom and Lila Cockrell Theatre combination.
- Phoenix Convention Center: Sun Belt convention venue operating at similar scale with comparable exhibit halls, ballrooms, and meeting rooms, competing with HBGCC for warm-weather destination association conventions.
- Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (New York): Recently expanded NYC convention venue targeting the same national association and trade show customers as HBGCC, with comparable exhibit halls, ballrooms, and meeting spaces.
- Austin Convention Center: City-owned convention center in Austin, Texas operating at similar scale with comparable exhibit halls, ballrooms, and meeting space, targeting the same association and corporate event planners in the Texas market.
- Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center (Dallas): Major Dallas convention facility with multi-hundred-thousand sq ft exhibit halls and large ballrooms, directly competing with HBGCC for Texas-hosted association and trade show events.
- Orange County Convention Center (Orlando): Second-largest convention facility in the US, hosting major trade shows and association events with comparable exhibit hall, ballroom, and meeting room offerings to HBGCC's portfolio.
- McCormick Place (Chicago): The largest convention center in North America, providing similar convention, trade show, and meeting services at scale, competing for the largest rotating association events that HBGCC also targets.
- Las Vegas Convention Center: Recently expanded mega-convention center competing for the largest US trade shows and association conventions, offering contiguous exhibit space and meeting room inventory comparable to HBGCC's scale.
- George R. Brown Convention Center (Houston): Houston's primary convention center with comparable contiguous exhibit space and ballroom capacity, part of a downtown hotel/complex integration similar in concept to HBGCC's Grand Hyatt adjacency.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Henry B. González Convention Center social profiles
Digital presenceHenry B. González Convention Center compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Henry B. González Convention Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Henry B. González Convention Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Henry B. González Convention Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Henry B. González 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 Henry B. González Convention Center
What does Henry B. González Convention Center do?
The Henry B. González Convention Center is a 1.6 million sq ft municipal event venue offering diverse, flexible spaces for conventions, trade shows, meetings, banquets, and performing arts events. The facility rents ballrooms (including the 54,000 sq ft Stars at Night Ballroom—the largest in Texas—and the 39,576 sq ft Hemisfair Ballroom), five exhibit halls totaling approximately 514,000 sq ft of contiguous space, over 70 meeting rooms, and the 2,319-seat Lila Cockrell Theatre. Comprehensive event services include exclusive WiFi/telecom (Smart City Networks), audiovisual/rigging (Encore Event Technologies), catering/concessions (The RK Culinary Group), electrical services (Edlen/Freeman), and security (SAPD).
Is Henry B. González Convention Center a public or private company?
Henry B. González Convention Center is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Henry B. González Convention Center founded?
Henry B. González Convention Center was founded in 1968.
Where is Henry B. González Convention Center based?
Henry B. González Convention Center is headquartered in San Antonio, United States, in the North America region.
How does Henry B. González Convention Center make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Venue Space Rental is the primary driver. The others are catering & Concessions, parking Services and event Services.
Who are Henry B. González Convention Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Los Angeles Convention Center, Colorado Convention Center (Denver), Phoenix Convention Center, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (New York), Austin Convention Center, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center (Dallas), Orange County Convention Center (Orlando), McCormick Place (Chicago), Las Vegas Convention Center and George R. Brown Convention Center (Houston).
Does Henry B. González Convention Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Henry B. González Convention Center.
What industry is Henry B. González Convention Center in?
Henry B. González Convention Center's product category is Convention and Event Venue Facilities. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAAAA, Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers), with a secondary code of MPAGALAE, Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes). Its NAICS code is 71131 and its SIC code is 7990.