NOW THAT'S A CONVENTION HALL

NOW THAT'S A CONVENTION HALL


  Our Here & There Column takes us this week to the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park  when we practiced our trade for three days at the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
  And wow...what a convention center it is.....located along the banks of the Little Pigeon River in the heart of Pigeon Forge, the architecture and design of the LeConte Center exudes a mountain lodge ambiance.
  When the design and planing for this impressive meeting facility began, the name was chosen as a tribute to the building's spectacular view of Mount LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
  The mission of the center, as any convention center should, is to serve as a catalyst for development in the area it serves, to help create jobs and to create economic vitality through scheduled functions that attract large numbers of our-of-town visitors. 

  We were very impressed what the city of Pigeon Forge did as they invested $50 million to build this 232,000 square-foot center with the goal of attracting large assembly events, trade shows, expositions, competitive events and special events.
  Groups from 1,500 to 12,000 attend events in the 100,500 square-foot, clear-span exhibit space with up to 17 separate breakout rooms. The main auditorium seats 12,000, there is free adjacent parking, free tram pick-up in the parking lot, free WiFi and only one event in the facility at one time. 
  This stunning facility has been awarded a Reader's Choice Award, Rising Destination for Meetings Award and Top New Meeting Site Award by Convention South magazine.

  The Center is committed to environmentally sustainable practices that protect and enhance the natural beauty and  health of the community.

  And another....Wow..... when we viewed this structure we thought of Sullivan County and what the convention and tourist trade use to look like back in the 1950's.

  Some interesting thoughts here about what a center like this would do for the economy of Sullivan County.

  It takes money to make money and the LaConte Center surely does just that.
                                                              

The 12,000 seat main assembly hall at the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge, Tenn.