About GRCC

The Greater Richmond Convention Center is the largest exhibition and meeting facility in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The GRCC — an impressive 700,000-square-foot, multi-purpose complex centrally located in Virginia’s capital — is one of the most desirable destinations in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The GRCC is situated within a 500-mile radius of more than half of the U. S. population. The Richmond region is considered a drive-to market along Interstate 95 but also is easily accessible by bus, rail and the Richmond International Airport, which is a 10-minute drive from downtown.

With 178,158 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, a 30,550 square-foot Grand Ballroom and 50,000 square feet of additional meeting/banquet space, the GRCC is well-positioned to host a variety of events from small meetings to large trade shows and conventions.

The convention center’s 411-space parking deck is attached to the facility. There are 10,039 parking spaces available within a six-block radius of the GRCC.

Two full-service hotels — the 400-room Richmond Marriott and the 249-room Hilton Richmond Downtown — are located directly adjacent to the GRCC. A variety of three- to five-star accommodations, combining for 3,600 rooms, also are located within a mile, and 18,000 rooms are available throughout the region.

An extraordinary building in a beautiful city, the Greater Richmond Convention Center offers event planners unprecedented flexibility and affordability to create a unique event experience.

For information on how to host an event, please submit an inquiry or call the Sales Department at (804) 783-7302.

Greater Richmond Convention Center Authority

The Greater Richmond Convention Center was built as a result of regional cooperation between the City of Richmond and the surrounding counties of Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover by their participation in the incorporation of the Greater Richmond Convention Center Authority. GRCCA, a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia, was created by these local governmental jurisdictions to acquire, finance, expand, renovate, construct, lease, operate and maintain the GRCC.

GRCCA is governed by a five-member commission made up of the chief administrative officer of each of the four incorporating political subdivisions and the president of the InUnison.

Oak View Group

Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster of stadiums, arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions around the world.  

Oak View Group (OVG) is a global sports and entertainment company founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015. OVG is focused on being a positive disruption to business as usual in the sports, live entertainment and hospitality industries and currently has eight divisions across four global offices (Los Angeles, New York, London, and Philadelphia). OVG oversees the operations of Climate Pledge Arena at Seattle Center and UBS Arena in Belmont Park, NY as well as arena development projects for Moody Center in Austin, TX; Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, CA; Co-op Live in Manchester, UK; and projects for Arena São Paulo in São Paulo, BZ; Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, MD; FirstOntario Centre Arena in Hamilton, ON; and a New Arena in Cardiff, Wales. More information at OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. 

History of the Greater richmond convention center

Celebrating Over Two Decades of Excellence

Since its inauguration on February 28, 2003, the Greater Richmond Convention Center (GRCC) has stood as Virginia's premier venue for meetings and exhibitions. It is the largest meeting facility in the Commonwealth, and recently celebrated 20 years of significant contributions to the cultural and economic vitality of the Richmond Region.

Roots in Project One

The story of GRCC begins in the late 1970s, when Richmond Mayor Henry L. Marsh initiated discussions for Project One, a transformative urban development that reshaped six city blocks bounded by Broad, Leigh, 3rd, and 5th Streets. This ambitious project laid the groundwork for what would become a new epicenter for Richmond's revitalization and the home of the original Richmond Center.  

The Original Richmond Center and the Coliseum

The construction of the Richmond Center, along with the Richmond Marriott, marked the beginning of a significant era in RVA’s history. The Richmond Center first opened its doors in 1986. Working in tandem with the Richmond Coliseum, these venues became the heart of the city's event scene, hosting an array of significant gatherings for years. This dynamic duo welcomed a plethora of landmark events, featuring legendary performances by icons such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, B.B. King, and Prince. Notably, they also hosted Elvis Presley's final concert, just a year before his passing, etching a permanent mark in the cultural legacy of the Richmond Region.

A New Beginning on Historic Foundations

As the demand for a larger, more modern facility grew, the vision for the Greater Richmond Convention Center began to take shape. Intended to replace the Richmond Center, the GRCC planned to incorporate steel and pillars from the original building into its modern architecture, thus preserving a piece of Richmond’s history.

Supported by Vision and Cooperation

The groundbreaking for the GRCC occurred in 1999, backed by a significant $10 million investment from former Governor George Allen and supported by regional transient lodging taxes. The Greater Richmond Convention Center Authority, which represents the city of Richmond along with Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico counties, oversaw the financing, development, and construction. GRCC opened its doors in 2003 and has been a major player in the regional event economy ever since.

Photo Credit: Richmond Times Dispatch

Group of diverse people gathered around a scale model of a building complex, viewing it enclosed in a glass case.
Construction site with excavated dirt, construction vehicles, and building materials, in an urban area with parked cars and city buildings in the background.
A black-and-white aerial view of a parking lot with labeled streets and buildings, including an exhibit center, convention center, hotel, and hotel parking area, with surrounding streets and parked cars.
Three large structures and an excavator discharging a cloud of balloons in front of them, with fog and trees in the background.
A man operating a backhoe excavator at a groundbreaking ceremony for a building labeled 'Project One: A New Beginning for Richmond,' with a group of people standing around and taking photos.
A man at a podium speaking into multiple microphones during a public event, with a banner that reads "Project One: A New Beginning for Richmond" in the background, and several seated men listening.